Workplace catering: Recurring revenue for restaurants

In today's fast-paced world of work, ensuring employees have easy access to good food is becoming a top priority for many businesses. Workplace catering has evolved from a nice extra to an important part of creating a productive and happy workplace. 

As companies recognise the importance of providing good food for their teams, the demand for reliable and seamless workplace catering services continues to grow.

Pej is a leader in workplace catering solutions designed to digitalise and streamline the entire process for large restaurants and chains. The Pej platform simplifies administrative tasks and invoicing for corporate catering accounts and orders, allowing enterprise restaurants to focus on what they do best—preparing delicious meals.

Pej makes it easy for large restaurants to onboard and administrate corporate clients, boost loyalty, and secure consistent revenue.

Keep reading to learn how Pej can help you tap into the booming workplace catering market and turn it into a reliable revenue stream.

What is workplace catering?

Workplace catering, also known as office catering or corporate catering, is the provision of food services tailored specifically for corporate environments. Examples of workplace catering services include:

• Daily meals: Regular meal deliveries to the office, with catered lunches being the most common format. It can also include meal allowances given to employees for purchases at specific nearby restaurants and cafés.

• Special events: Catering for corporate functions, from small meetings to large company-wide celebrations.

• Corporate parties: Full-service catering for holiday parties, team-building events, and other office celebrations.

  
  

Workplace catering: A growing opportunity for restaurants 

As competition for talent grows, companies are looking for ways to attract and retain the right people and create a great work environment. One increasingly popular strategy is the use of food as a perk. 

In the age of online ordering, where delivery drivers and local restaurants are always just a click away, it's more convenient than ever to work from home. With the rise of remote work and hybrid models, employers find that offering high-quality, convenient meal options entice employees to actually come into the office.

Another challenge employers face today is high employee turnover. This is also an area where workplace catering can be helpful. Statistics show that 46% of workers feel that employer-provided food makes them more likely to stay at their current company. 

In fact, employees list free or subsidised food at work as the perk they appreciate the most. These numbers signal a big opportunity for restaurants to reach a growing market.

According to Food For Work: Fueling America’s Workforce, employees say free food is the #1 work perk. To the question “Which of these perks do you appreciate the most?” the answers were:

• Free or subsidised food 71%

• Flexible work arrangements (remote/hybrid, flexible schedule) 43%

• Wellness benefits (gym membership, mental health app) 20%

• Education benefits (tuition assistance, continuous learning stipends) 20%

• Profit sharing/stock options 16%

• Volunteer benefits (VTO) 4%

For restaurants, this trend offers a great chance to establish dependable recurring revenue streams.

Corporate clients typically make large, frequent orders, offering restaurants a steady income source. 

Unlike individual customers, businesses tend to value quality, reliability, and convenience over price. By collaborating with companies for workplace catering, restaurants can secure significant, repeat business for long-term financial stability.

Common challenges in managing corporate catering orders

Many workplace catering ideas have potential. But managing large or individual, recurring orders from corporate clients also brings challenges. Restaurants venturing into this space often face obstacles that impact efficiency and customer satisfaction.

• Large orders or individual meal allowances: Corporate catering often means handling many meal requests for numerous employees. Managing these orders manually can be time-consuming and complex. Especially when you need to customise to fit different dietary needs.

• Payment procedures: Corporate clients usually have specific invoicing needs, which may vary from standard restaurant billing methods. Managing invoices, monitoring payments, and securing prompt collection can become a web of administrative duties.

• Contract management: Creating and managing contracts with corporate clients demands meticulous attention to detail and clear communication to avoid misunderstandings. Otherwise, there is a risk for unmet expectations, and potential business loss.

Using a platform like Pej to streamline ordering, automate invoicing, and reduce administrative tasks is a game-changer. When clients experience smooth and efficient order handling, their trust and loyalty grow. This paves the way for repeat business and long-term partnerships.

Pej for Workplace Catering

Pej streamlines the management of workplace catering orders by making it easier for restaurants to serve corporate clients efficiently. Pej simplifies the entire process: from order to invoicing. This ensures a seamless experience for both restaurants and their corporate customers.

• Order placement administration 

• Invoicing processes

• Contract management

Pej automates and optimises administrative tasks and mitigates risk, allowing restaurants to focus on preparing delicious meals. With Pej, restaurants can manage onboarding of clients and their employees, recurring orders, track payments, and reduce the administrative burden associated with corporate catering.

Integration with Oracle Simphony POS

Pej integrates seamlessly with Oracle Simphony POS. This ensures catering operations are synchronised with the restaurant’s existing point-of-sale system, providing a unified platform for order management and invoicing. The result is a streamlined process that minimises errors, reduces manual work, and enhances overall efficiency.

Benefits of using Pej for workplace catering

• Less invoicing and contract admin. Pej automates invoicing and contract management, significantly reducing the time and effort required to handle these tasks manually. This allows restaurants to allocate resources more effectively.

• Increased loyalty from corporate customers. By providing a smooth and efficient ordering experience, Pej helps restaurants build stronger relationships with corporate clients. Satisfied clients are more likely to place repeat orders, ensuring a steady stream of reliable revenue.

• Improved risk management. Pej’s platform includes features that help mitigate the risks associated with credit purchases. By streamlining the invoicing process and ensuring timely payments, restaurants can better manage their cash flow.

• Smooth onboarding and reliable support. Pej’s onboarding process is quick and straightforward. This means restaurants can start managing large corporate catering orders efficiently in no time.

  
  

Trends in workplace catering

With workplace catering evolving, several trends are shaping the industry. They mirror how company priorities and what employees like are changing. Restaurants that manage to keep up with these trends can serve their corporate clients better and stay competitive in a dynamic market.

• A focus on health and dietary-specific menus. With increasing health awareness and dietary restrictions, the need for health-focused menus is growing. Offering healthy options like vegan, gluten-free, and low-carb meals caters to various dietary needs, boosting employee satisfaction and showing a commitment to well-being. Fresh fruits, lean proteins are other great options that are high in demand.

• Sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients. Sustainability is a major trend in the food industry, extending to workplace catering. Corporate clients want caterers that prioritise eco-friendly practices like local, organic ingredients and waste reduction. Restaurants can gain clients by focusing on food quality, sustainable sourcing and eco-friendly practices.

• Tech-enabled catering solutions. Technology in catering services is transforming order processes. Online catering menu systems and integrations offer convenience for both restaurants and clients. Clients can place, customise, and track orders easily. Restaurants manage orders smoothly, reducing errors and enhancing service.

• Adaptability for remote and hybrid work. Remote and hybrid work models have changed how workplaces handle catering. Restaurants need to adjust by providing flexible catering solutions for in-office and remote staff. This can involve accepting company meal allowances as payment, delivering individual meals to homes, virtual event catering, or hybrid options for both in-person and virtual guests. 

Staying updated on these trends helps restaurants enhance modern workplace catering services. Providing healthy menus, eco-friendly practices, tech integration, and flexible catering options makes you attractive to corporate clients.

Seize the workplace catering opportunity

Workplace catering presents a significant opportunity for restaurants to secure reliable, recurring revenue while building strong relationships with corporate clients. By tapping into this growing market, restaurants can expand their services, enhance their reputation, and foster long-term growth. The demand for workplace catering is on the rise, with companies increasingly using food as an incentive to boost employee satisfaction and attendance.

Pej offers a comprehensive solution that simplifies the complexities of managing corporate catering accounts and orders. From streamlined ordering and automated invoicing to seamless integration with Oracle Simphony POS, Pej’s technology helps restaurants reduce administrative burdens and improve operational efficiency. 

With Pej, restaurants can provide exceptional service, build loyalty among corporate clients, and secure steady, reliable revenue. Contact Pej today to kickstart your restaurant's growth!