Top 3 Corporate Catering Trends that We Are Seeing in 2021

Every New Year, we look forward to new catering trends and innovations in business event catering. But, 2021 the situation is totally different. With the pandemic still raging and with discussions of a second wave, it looks like large corporate gatherings won’t be back anytime in 2021.

But, it’s not all gloom and doom. With vaccination in full swing, the light at the end of the tunnel seems closer with each passing day.

As they say, “necessity is the mother of invention.” From safe buffets to individually packaged food boxes, corporates event catering underwent a sea change in the last year. In this post, we highlight the best corporate catering service trends to look forward in 2021 and beyond.

Food Served with a Generous Dose of Safety

Over the last year, we’ve seen numerous office event catering service providers adapt their styles to suit the post Covid-19 world. Food hygiene is always paramount. It has taken centre stage post the pandemic. The leading caterers in corporate catering have upped their safety and sanitization measures to provide guests with hygienic and safe event food.

As we adapt to the new normal, here are some of the hygienic food practices that we can expect to see from corporate catering services in Gurgaon.

• Sanitizer stations for both guests and staff
• Masks, gloves, face shields and even PPE for all kitchen and serving staff
• Temperature screening for guests and staff before entering the event
• Adequate hand-washing stations, napkins, soaps at the venue

Changing Guest Expectations: A Huge Preference for Healthy Eating

Here are some of the expectations of corporate guests this year:

• Guests are showing a huge preference for healthy meals. Immunity boosting foods, local foods, and hyper-local foods are all huge in trend right now.
• Caterers are using safe methods for food preparation. Whether it’s thawing frozen foods or not reusing cooking oils, caterers are going the extra mile to provide guests with healthy, home-style foods.
• Guests are even more conscious about the foods they eat – they want to know where the foods they consume are sourced from.
• Also, guests are willing to pay extra to get high-quality and safe foods. They do not want to compromise on quality and taste over budget.

To accommodate the changing needs of the guests, corporate catering service providers are focussed on healthy menus, sustainably sourced ingredients and safe cooking. You can expect lots of locally-grown veggies, sustainably sourced meats and meat alternatives served at corporate events in 2021 and beyond.

Individually-Packed Boxed Meals

Boxed meals aren’t a new trend. But, the pandemic has accelerated the demand for boxed meals significantly. Today, consumers are worried about dining at huge conclaves. And, event organisers too are wary about being labelled as super spreaders. Boxed meals are the perfect solution to overcome these challenges. Here are some of the emerging trends in this space:

• Expect meals to be served in individually packaged boxes at corporate events. Each box will contain a full course meal including the starter, main course, sides and desserts. Beverages are offered along with the box in sealed containers.
• A huge benefit of boxed meals is that it can be easily customised. Guests can indicate their food preferences along with the RSVP and can receive their customised box at the event.
• Besides boxed meals for corporate lunch catering services, DIY food kits are also growing in popularity. These kits contain all the ingredients for a special meal. Guests can prepare the special dish from the convenience of their kitchens.
• Some corporate event organisers have also started offering DIY food kits for virtual events. These kits are sent prior to the event to all attendees. Then attendees can discuss and share cooking tips and reviews during the virtual event.

While we think that it will take a long time to get back to normal, there’s no arguing the fact that the new normal will be vastly different from the old normal. Some trends like enhanced safety and hygiene will stick around for the foreseeable future.

Which of these trends do you think will stick around after the pandemic is long over? Do you see buffets coming back? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

And, before you leave, make sure to check out Captain Joe, the no.1 party and corporate caterers in Gurgaon. Whether you’re looking for menu inspiration or looking to book the best corporate catering services in Gurgaon, Captain Joe is here to help you celebrate in style.