i Lead Recipes

Running one’s own catering company is no easy task. As the saying goes: “If you aim at nothing you are sure to hit it.” Planning, goal setting and working towards clear objectives make success possible.

OBJECTIVES OF A CATERING SERVICE

• Earn a fair profit. A company that is known to charge exuberant fares will lose out on clientele. 
• Sufficient catering sales must be generated to cover expenses and still leave a profit. Caterers can be tempted into taking on business that do not pay for itself or which shows very little profit. There may be times in every business when it becomes necessary to take on projects with marginal profit, but that should be the exception rather than the rule. In slow season when business is quiet it may be necessary to just cover costs to ensure well-trained staff do not leave the company. Charity and VIP events may show little profit but it gives the company opportunity to show off and in the process meet future clientele.

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OBJECTIVES OF A CATERING SERVICE (continued)

• Customer satisfaction. A satisfied customer means repeat business and referrals.
• Constant quality service.Providing high quality cuisine and presenting it flawlessly and punctually is essential.
• Convey an image. Every catering service will have a certain image they want to convey. It may be a certain ambience, type of food or uniqueness that clients associate with the company.
• Reputation for dependability. Clients must feel confident that regardless of the stress of the event, the caterer will cope.
• Reputation for flexibility. A client must think fondly of a company as the one that bailed them out at the last minute.
• Stay on budget. There are few things that upsets a client as much as hidden costs that surprise them at the last minute.

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Many are of the opinion that if someone can cook they can survive in a full-time cooking career. That is only half the truth. Starting one’s own catering company for example means the business have to show profit while keeping the client’s wishes and budget in mind. Showing profit could be harder than anticipated. Menu planning and costing, purchasing the correct quantity as well as quality product and training the wait-staff correctly are but a few of the intricisies of catering.

Prue Leith Catering Academy in Gauteng is an internationally acclaimed chef’s school whose comprehensive curiculum is focused on teaching those pursuing a full-time cooking career essential business skills. This will enable graduates to deliver a top-notch service to clients in South Africa as well abroad.

CONTACT PRUELEITH
Gourmet Chefs Academy South Africa :www.prueleith.co.za

Prue Leith Catering telephone:
0861 105 889

Prue Leith Chefs Academy telephone:
+27 (0)12 654-5203

Prue Leith’s Restaurant telephone:
+27 (0)12 660-3260

Chefs Academy and Prue Leith’s Restaurant physical address:
262 Rhino Street,
Hennopspark,
Centurion,
0046,
South Africa

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