28 problems caterers bring us, each with the cause, what it costs and what we build to fix it.
Caterers rebuild every event quote by hand from menus, recipe costs and staffing. We build a quote tool that prices a menu per head from your own costings.
Caterers get final guest numbers late, by email, then again by phone. We build one place for number changes that updates orders, staff and the invoice.
Caterers get dietary lists as spreadsheets, emails and scribbled notes. We collect them in one structured format that feeds the kitchen and the table plan.
Caterers change recipes and swap suppliers, and allergen sheets fall behind. We link dish records to ingredients so a change flags every menu it affects.
Caterers fill event shifts by messaging casual staff one by one. We build a shift offer system that matches staff to events by role and availability.
Caterers rebuild casual staff hours from supervisor notes and texts after each event. We capture sign-in and sign-out at the venue and send hours to payroll.
Caterers get hire company invoices for missing and broken items days after an event. We track hire out and back per event so charges can be checked.
Caterers pack vans from memory and discover the missing chafing dish at the venue. We generate packing lists per event from the menu, numbers and service style.
Caterers chase deposits and final balances by hand and sometimes cater events unpaid. We link payment milestones to each booking and chase them automatically.
Caterers update function sheets by email and the kitchen prints last week's version. We keep one live event sheet with changes highlighted for each team.
Caterers scale recipes by hand for each event and miss shared prep across jobs. We build combined prep lists by day from confirmed menus and numbers.
Caterers build supplier orders by adding up event menus by hand and phoning in top-ups. We draft supplier orders from confirmed events, stock and delivery days.
Caterers get enquiries from web forms, venues and Instagram and lose track after the first reply. We build one pipeline from enquiry to tasting to booking.
Caterers get wedding menu pre-orders as messy spreadsheets and match them to tables. We collect choices per guest and build kitchen counts and table lists.
Caterers take office lunch delivery orders by email and phone and retype them for the kitchen. We build online ordering that feeds production and driver runs.
Contract caterers get site GP from late stocktakes and emailed spreadsheets. We pull sales, purchases and stock into one weekly view per site.
Contract caterers build monthly client invoices for subsidy, fees and recharges by hand. We generate them from site data and the terms of each contract.
Contract caterers take meeting hospitality orders by email and lose cost codes. We build an order page for client staff that feeds kitchen and billing.
Contract caterers cover sickness by phoning round site managers at 6am. We build one rota across sites showing who is qualified and free to move.
Contract caterers keep fridge, delivery and cleaning check sheets on paper at each site. We move them onto phones with reminders and a head office view.
Caterers quote weddings a year ahead, then supplier prices rise. We show which booked events are affected and by how much, so you can decide what to do.
Caterers know turnover per event but not the real cost of food, staff and hire. We match actual costs to each event so you can compare them with the quote.
Caterers send insurance, risk assessments and access details to each venue by hand, and some get missed. We keep venue requirements with every booking.
Caterers accept a fourth Saturday event without checking kitchen, vans and senior staff. We build a capacity view showing what a new booking would stretch.
Caterers onboard seasonal staff with paper forms, photocopied documents and uniform lists. We build a mobile onboarding flow that tracks every step.
Caterers on venue preferred supplier lists calculate commission by hand from invoices. We build venue statements from each event's final invoice.
Contract caterers rebuild each tender from old bids, CVs and policies in shared drives. We build a response library that drafts answers for your team to edit.
Contract caterers plan menu cycles and tariffs site by site in spreadsheets. We build one planner that costs each cycle and feeds tills and menu boards.