What to Expect from a Supermarket Catering Service

By Catering Staff | July 26, 2016

Not a lot of people know that some supermarkets offer catering services. Sure, there are lots of information on how you can make large to-go orders for certain dishes offered in store, but information on actual catering for parties are not always something you’d expect to see along the grocery aisles.

But it does make sense for these big stores to offer catering services in a way, since they already have the supplies to do so. Not everyone might be particularly good, especially since not all supermarkets are renowned for their culinary mastery. You can find a number of great places, though, especially those who have a noted deli like Schnucks or cooked food station like Whole Foods.

If you’re thinking of hiring a supermarket catering service for your event, here are a few things that you should expect.

1. Friendly rates. As mentioned earlier, these caterers already have their own supply of goods needed to host a party, so you can expect good rates. A lot of people get surprised with this, especially for rather higher-end places like Whole Foods, but it’s true. They offer affordable rates for their catering services.

2. Some supermarkets might not offer full service catering and will require pick up from the store. You can argue that for some supermarkets, they’re not really offering catering services but more of party trays and bulk orders instead. However, others do offer catering, like Whole Foods who cover preparations and clean ups with their scope of work should you choose to hire them.

3. The quality of food you’ll get will largely depend on the supermarket you’re eyeing. If the supermarket you plan to get as a caterer offers high quality products, you can expect the same level of quality in what they’ll serve to you and your guests at your event. This is why Whole Foods a big hit in areas where they offer their catering services, as they only serve the finest and freshest food available.

If you’re not too sure about being catered by a supermarket, you can always turn to a fastfood place in your area to provide you some chow for your big day. If you’re not too keen on getting cold cuts from a store, you can also opt to rely on Arby’s meat platters instead and be guaranteed of high quality meats for your barbecue night with friends and loved ones at home.