Catering is one of the highest-margin revenue streams a restaurant can have. But simply offering catering isn’t enough. Operators have to make it easy for guests to find their offerings and place orders, while keeping the channel top of mind with both new and returning customers. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with tips that are proven to grow catering orders.
1. Why should I show catering prices online?
Providing online ordering for your catering services is one of the easiest ways to grow sales. A lot of operators “hide” catering behind a contact form, which prevents guests from easily accessing the information they need to make a decision. Even just making catering menus available online can make a big difference.
Say, for example, someone is planning a corporate lunch and needs to bring options back to their manager. They’re more likely to recommend a restaurant if they can see the type of food that’s offered and get pricing right away. The added step of filling out a form and waiting for the restaurant to get back in touch with them is too much friction, especially if they’re looking for options by the end of the day. Setting up online ordering on your catering menus also streamlines the decision-making process for guests, making them more likely to order from your restaurant vs a restaurant that asks them to call for ordering.
2. What kind of catering should I offer?
Stop treating catering as one product. The person feeding 40 people at a birthday party wants something completely different from the office manager ordering weekly corporate lunches. Build for both — separately.
The categories worth targeting:
Near office buildings or business parks
Corporate catering is your lowest-hanging fruit. These customers order repeatedly and value reliability over variety. Build a streamlined menu with clear per-head pricing — boxed lunches, set spreads, simple packages.
Near neighborhoods or schools
You're in the sweet spot for celebration catering — birthdays, graduations, baby showers. Consider sponsoring a local school event or sports team. It's often cheaper than paid ads and puts you in front of exactly the right customers.
Near wedding venues or event spaces
Reach out directly and get on their preferred vendor list. Venues get asked for catering recommendations constantly — being on that list does the selling for you.
Pick the one or two categories that match your location, build a focused menu for each, and expand from there.
3. Why should I offer holiday catering?
Yes — and it's one of the best opportunities to introduce your restaurant to new catering customers. Holiday meals are a natural entry point: people who've never ordered catering before are suddenly motivated to try it, and a good experience brings them back for other occasions. A great holiday catering experience doesn't just generate one order — it can turn your restaurant into an annual tradition. That's a customer who comes back every year without you having to re-acquire them.
You’ll want to get started earlier than you think. By the time Thanksgiving week arrives, most families have already made their plans. If you want to be part of them, start communicating in October. Email your list, post on social, put a card on every table.
Build a menu that makes the decision easy
Holiday-specific menus work because they remove friction. A Thanksgiving turkey package, a Christmas sides spread, a New Year's party platter — when the decision is mostly made for them, customers are more likely to commit. Keep it focused. Two or three options beats a sprawling menu every time.
4. How do I promote my catering offerings?
You build the packages, post the menu, create the holiday specials and then assume customers will find it. Now it’s time to make sure your customers know about your catering options.
Use what you already have:
- Your dining room: Table cards, to-go bags, and receipts are direct lines to people who already like your food. A simple insert that says "We cater! Ask us how!" can be very effective (and affordable) supplements to digital marketing
- Your email list: If you collect emails (and you should), send a dedicated catering announcement — not buried in a newsletter, its own email. Be specific: "Now booking corporate lunches for Q1" or "Order your Thanksgiving spread by Nov. 20."
- Google Business Profile: Add catering to your services. Update your description. It's free and it shows up when people search "catering near me."
- Your staff: Train your team to mention catering naturally — when a large party comes in, when someone mentions an upcoming event, when a regular is on their way out. A brief, genuine mention from a server is more convincing than any flyer.
- Paid ads: A small budget on Google or Meta goes a long way when it's targeted locally. Run ads around the holidays or back-to-school season when catering demand spikes. You don't need a big spend — you need the right timing.
How Popmenu helps you do all of this
Catering won't grow on its own. But it also doesn't require a reinvention of your restaurant — it requires showing up with the right offer, in the right place, at the right time, and making sure people know about it. Start with one category that fits your location, build a focused menu, and communicate it consistently. The operators who win at catering aren't doing anything complicated. They're just doing the basics better than everyone else.
Ready to grow your catering business? Popmenu's online ordering and marketing tools are built to help. Learn more here.
