If you’re responsible for organizing the catering for a corporate event, you’ll need to figure out how much to order for everyone. Striking a balance is necessary: ordering too much food will put you over budget while ordering too little will result in unhappy employees. Here’s a guide for how you can arrive at a more precise offering for your company. 

3 Tips to Calculate How Much Catering You Need for Your Event

1. Start With a Baseline

Think in terms of what will be available for each attendee to eat. With sushi, usually six to 10 pieces is the average amount per person, while proteins like beef should be allotted at 5 ounces per person. For basic side dishes like vegetables, three to four ounces is considered a good baseline as well as two ounces for pasta or rice. 

2. Consider the Duration

Once you have your estimated amounts in mind, rework them to take contextual factors into account. For instance, if the event is scheduled for two hours, you’ll need to order more catering to accommodate second helpings. For a shorter event, you may only need appetizers and snacks rather than a full meal. 

3. Factor in the Event Type

For seated events like board meetings or lectures, you won’t need as much food available because attendees will mostly be focused on the central activity. On the other hand, an all-hands social event introduces much more spontaneity and movement, and guests will likely expect access to more food. 

If you need assistance catering for a corporate event on Oahu, trust Marians Catering. Offering everything from Hawaiian cuisine to international options for more than 60 years, these professionals will help you create a perfectly portioned menu for your group. Start planning for your event by calling (808) 621-6758, or preview the menu offerings on their website.