Corporate Catering Explained: 6 Key Benefits for Your Business

It’s a story as old as time: the way to someone’s heart is through their tummy.

We’re only human—food is one of our most primal needs and greatest pleasures. We eat three meals a day, meaning we think about food at least three times a day (let’s be honest, probably more!). For most of us, food has overwhelmingly positive associations. It fuels our bodies and minds, boosts our mood, rewards our efforts, and creates shared experiences. It’s central to social gatherings, religious celebrations, and even training our beloved pets (although, don’t worry, we’re not suggesting that’s how you should treat your employees!).

In short, food is a universal source of positivity.

So, with that in mind… doesn’t it make perfect sense to bring that positivity into the workplace?

Workplace Wellbeing - How Can Food Fit In?

There’s a clear connection between good overall wellbeing—mental, physical, financial—and an individual’s performance at work. Employers increasingly recognise that promoting employee wellbeing and creating a supportive, positive environment benefits both the business and the people who keep it running.

As workplace wellbeing and employee benefits become greater priorities, offering quality food and catering is a smart, forward-thinking move. It’s a way for companies to show genuine care for their teams’ happiness and health. After all, happy, healthy employees are the key to any organisation’s success. Good wellbeing leads to fewer sick days, higher productivity, and stronger loyalty.

CASE STUDY: Corporate Catering for Bromley-Based Business

We’ve seen the benefits of workplace catering first-hand through our work with Bromley’s largest employer, Splash Damage, who have around 400 people in their Bromley-based studio. Over an 18-month period, we supported their efforts to boost employee return-to-office rates (following a period of pandemic-induced working from home), productivity, and engagement through thoughtful, strategic catering.

Here’s a snapshot of what we provided for them:

• Hot breakfasts served once a week

• Sandwiches and baguettes provided weekly

• Catering at the company's three annual events (each with 800+ attendees)

• Hot dinners three days a week for clubs

• VIP lunches

• Themed catering for national days and special occasions (such as Wellbeing Week)

  
  

"We worked with Concerto Catering over an 18-month period to increase employee return to office, productivity and engagement. This was done through strategic food offerings and events, and the results were incredible. Not only are Concerto incredibly easy to work with, they also bring a creative flair to all events, ensuring the food is themed to the event. They always went over and above to ensure delivery was complete to the highest of standard. We couldn’t recommend them more to any company looking to increase employee productivity, engagement, and retention."

Georgia Butler, Head of Facilities, Splash Damage

Different Types Of Corporate Catering

To make things simple, we usually categorise corporate catering into three broad types: workplace catering, corporate events, and client entertainment.

Workplace Catering

This is internal catering for employees and can range from daily offers to periodic events. Examples include:

• Staff breakfasts and/or lunches

• Team-building activities

• Workshops and training sessions

• Reward or incentive trips

• Co-working space socials

  
  

Corporate Events

These are a mix of internal and external stakeholder gatherings that often call for something a bit more special:

• Awards and ceremonies

• Company milestones

• Product launches

• Office parties

• Seminars and conferences

• Networking events

• Tradeshows

  
  

Entertaining Clients

A chance to showcase your company’s commitment to excellent hospitality and leave a lasting impression:

• Board meetings

• Corporate hospitality

• Corporate away days or experiences

  
  

Learn more about our corporate catering offerings here.

6 Benefits Of Offering Food To Employees

1. Staff Retention & Engagement

Providing good food at work shows your team they’re valued and appreciated. When employees feel looked after, they’re far more likely to stay loyal and engaged. This reduces the costs and disruption of frequent staff turnover.

2. Promotes a Good Company Culture

Sharing meals can create a sense of community and belonging within the workplace. It fosters positive relationships, boosts morale, and can even become part of your company’s unique culture and identity. It also helps to attract new talent and reduces employee turnover, as people want to work somewhere that invests in their wellbeing.

3. Fosters Collaboration & Innovation

Food naturally brings people together, breaking down barriers between departments and seniority levels. Informal conversations over lunch can spark new ideas, strengthen teamwork, and lead to innovative solutions that might never emerge in a formal meeting room.

4. Encourages Workplace Attendance

Offering delicious meals or snacks can be an added incentive for employees to come into the office, especially in an age of hybrid working. Knowing there’s a tasty lunch waiting makes the workplace more inviting and can boost in-person collaboration.

5. A Cost-Effective Staff Benefit

Compared to other employee perks, catering can be a surprisingly affordable way to invest in your team’s wellbeing. It delivers high impact for relatively low cost and often pays for itself through improved productivity, reduced sick days, and stronger staff loyalty.

6. It’s an Easy Win - Leave It to Us!

Organising catering doesn’t have to add to your workload. We handle everything, from planning menus to setting up and serving, so you can enjoy all the benefits without any stress. It’s one of the simplest ways to make a big difference to your workplace culture and employee satisfaction.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your corporate catering enquiries.