Finding business catering: caterer direct, platform or delivery service compared 2026

1. What sets business catering apart from private catering

Business catering follows different rules than a party among friends. Four points make the difference:

• Repetition. Meetings, trainings and team lunches happen every week. The caterer has to deliver consistently, not just shine once.
• Predictability. Dates are in the calendar, breaks are planned to the minute. A delivery ten minutes late disrupts the whole agenda.
• Many diets. A group of 30 people almost always has vegetarian, vegan and allergy-related requests at the same time.
• Invoice and approval. Orders need an invoice with the company address, often a purchase order number or cost center, and approval from purchasing.

So anyone looking for business catering is not just looking for good food. They are looking for a partner who delivers reliably and fits the company's processes.

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2. Three ways to a caterer compared

There are three ways to book business catering. Each has strengths and limits.

Figure 1: Three ways to a caterer compared. Caterer direct: one provider, a request per caterer, collect offers yourself, service by arrangement; limit: comparing takes time. Catering platform: several caterers per request, one request, offers arrive bundled, from meeting to event, fixed contact person; limit: only cities in the network. Delivery service: many individual dishes, order online, fixed prices without an offer, rather small groups, usually no service on site; limit: little advice and service.

Going directly to the caterer pays off when a proven partner is already in place. The line to the kitchen is shortest. But for every new occasion, new offers have to be collected and compared.

A catering platform bundles the search. One request goes to several suitable caterers, and the offers come back in comparable form. At egora, these are local caterers in Berlin and Munich with experience with corporate clients, supported by a fixed contact person. The limit: a platform only covers the cities its network delivers to.

A delivery service suits small, spontaneous orders. It is usually not designed for events with setup, tableware or staff.

3. How to recognize a reliable caterer

Whether a caterer is reliable shows before the first order in seven points:

1. References from corporate clients. Caterers who regularly supply offices and corporate events know time windows, receptions and delivery zones.
2. Allergen labeling under the EU Food Information Regulation. The 14 main allergens must be labeled, including on non-prepacked food. A menu with allergen information belongs in the offer.
3. A hygiene concept. Food businesses need a self-monitoring system based on HACCP. A reputable caterer can describe it on request.
4. Fixed delivery windows. A 30-minute window is common. What happens in case of delay matters too.
5. Clear cancellation and change rules. Until when can the number of guests change free of charge? What does a cancellation the day before cost?
6. A tasting for larger orders. For events from around 100 people or for daily meals, a tasting is worthwhile.
7. An invoice that fits accounting. Company address, purchase order number or cost center, and a collective invoice for regular orders.

Online reviews help with the shortlist. But they do not replace checking these points, because private parties and corporate orders have different requirements.

How to compare several offers point by point is shown in our checklist for comparing catering offers.

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4. Buffet or set menu: what suits the occasion

The question of format comes up at almost every corporate occasion. The answer depends on how much interaction is wanted.

• A buffet suits relaxed occasions with interaction: summer party, team event, conference break. Guests move around, mingle and choose for themselves. Different diets are easy to cover.
• A set menu suits formal occasions with a fixed schedule: client evening, anniversary, board dinner. Everyone is seated, the service brings the courses, and speeches find their place between courses.
• Finger food suits receptions and standing networking where nobody should sit for long.

Price is not just about the food. Service and equipment count too. Our article buffet, set menu or finger food works out the honest per-head comparison.

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5. Planning drinks and extras

Drinks are often planned last at corporate occasions and then take the most time. Three questions settle this early:

• Flat rate or billing by consumption? A flat rate is predictable, billing by consumption pays off for short occasions.
• Do drinks come from the same caterer? One provider for food and drinks saves coordination and a second invoice.
• Who provides glasses, cooling and staff? These items are missing from offers most often.

With a request through egora, food and drinks can be requested together. The offers list both separately so that the comparison stays honest.

6. From request to booking in Berlin and Munich

Five details make every request comparable: date and time, number of people, occasion, budget per person and the desired format. Add diets and allergies if they are already known.

With these details, booking through a platform takes three steps:

1. Submit the request. Once, with all five details.
2. Compare offers. Several caterers reply with price per person, scope of services and terms.
3. Book and invoice. The order runs through a fixed contact person. Regular orders come with a collective invoice. Companies with their own procurement system can order directly from that system via an OCI interface.

egora arranges business catering in Berlin and Munich. The overview pages show formats and price examples for business catering in Berlin and business catering in Munich.

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Conclusion

Business catering can be found in three ways: directly from the caterer, through a platform or through a delivery service. Going direct pays off with a proven partner, a platform saves searching and comparing, and a delivery service suits small, spontaneous orders. In every case, checking in advance is what counts: references, allergen labeling, hygiene, delivery windows, cancellation rules, a tasting and a suitable invoice.

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FAQ

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What should you look for when choosing a caterer for corporate events?

References from corporate clients, allergen labeling under the EU Food Information Regulation, a hygiene concept based on HACCP, fixed delivery windows, clear cancellation rules, a tasting for larger orders and an invoice that fits accounting.

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What are the advantages of an online portal for booking catering?

One request reaches several suitable caterers, the offers come back in comparable form and a fixed contact person accompanies the booking. The limit: a portal only covers the cities its network delivers to.

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How can you assess the quality of a catering provider in advance?

Through references from corporate clients, a menu with allergen information, questions about the hygiene concept and, for larger orders, a tasting. Online reviews help with the shortlist.

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What is the difference between a buffet and a set menu at company parties?

A buffet suits relaxed occasions with interaction and easily covers different diets. A set menu suits formal occasions with a fixed schedule and table service.

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What food safety requirements apply to catering?

Caterers need a self-monitoring system based on HACCP and must label the 14 main allergens under the EU Food Information Regulation, including on non-prepacked food. Deliveries also require an unbroken cold chain.

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Where can I find professional business catering in Berlin and Munich?

Through a catering platform like egora that arranges local caterers with experience with corporate clients. One request with date, number of people, occasion, budget and format brings offers from several caterers.