The Different Types of Commercial Catering

Commercial catering is the provision of prepared cooking dishes, as part of a commercial establishment. It is often a service provided by hotels, restaurants, and fast food outlets.

It can be a lucrative business opportunity for someone who has a passion for food and loves to cater. But before you decide to open your own business, it is important to understand the industry and market you’re targeting.

Hospitality Sector

The hospitality sector is a broad term covering a variety of businesses and services linked to leisure and customer satisfaction. It includes restaurants, bars, cafes, hotel chains, travel and tourism and even transport operations.

The majority of this sector consists of restaurants, including fine dining establishments and fast food joints. They are the largest element of the hospitality industry, and account for a significant proportion of the economy.

These can be sit-in or takeaway, and are often open late into the night. They may also offer a range of other entertainment, such as live music or dancing.

Hospitality can be a lucrative career path for young professionals who enjoy providing outstanding customer service. It’s a challenging but rewarding industry, and one that grows in popularity each year.

Industrial Sector

Providing meals for employees, both on a daily basis and for special events, is a staple in the industrial sector. This is not only to enhance morale, but also to prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders that are commonly associated with repetitive tasks in the workplace.

The commercial catering equipment market is a vast arena, and consists of an extensive range of products. It is a highly competitive industry, with many players competing to dominate it.

The market is expected to see robust growth over the coming years. Increasing corporate profit levels and rising household spending are both likely to fuel growth in this industry over the next five years. Additionally, the advent of ghost kitchens / virtual restaurants and explosive restaurant innovations are both expected to drive this market in the near future.

Welfare Sector

The welfare sector may be defined as those operations in which making a profit from catering facility is not the outlet's primary concern. These establishments may be categorized by type of establishment, parent company or government mandated allowance per head. The main goal of the welfare minded catooh is to maximize efficiency by minimizing overheads and cost while providing an enjoyable experience for the end user. Various government funded schemes have been instituted to achieve this.

In commercial catering, the welfare minded may be best accomplished by contract caterers who can deliver a top notch service at a palatable price. The most important part of the process is ensuring that the food is of a high quality and preferably cooked with minimum loss of nutritional value. This may require a dedicated team of skilled chefs to execute the task. Other notable elements of this process include a well designed menu and an efficient service staff. The most difficult challenge is ensuring that the customer receives a satisfying meal at a reasonable price.

Private Sector

The private sector is a part of the economy that is made up of for-profit businesses that are not government-owned. This sector focuses on profit maximization and acts in the best interest of its stakeholders.

Companies and organizations in the private sector create competitive products and foster market innovation by catering to consumer demands. They also seek to generate profits, which they can use for business expansion or reinvest in their companies.

Nonprofits are also a part of the private sector. They often operate in areas perceived as public good, such as social services and natural resource conservation.

The private sector can be comprised of individuals or incorporations that operate as sole proprietorships, partnerships and cooperative societies. It can also include corporations that employ 500 or more employees.