{"id":3833,"date":"2023-01-24T00:52:47","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T00:52:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-test.mobydish.com\/?p=3833"},"modified":"2023-02-21T18:02:16","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T18:02:16","slug":"office-catering-choose-between-the-2-most-used-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/office-catering-choose-between-the-2-most-used-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Office Catering: Choose Between The 2 Most Used Options"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the return of employees to their work office, many employers are now tasked with finding creative ways to provide <a href=\"https:\/\/mobydish.com\/blog\/15-corporate-catering-lunch-ideas-to-amaze-your-team-in-2023\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"15 Corporate Catering Lunch Ideas to Amaze Your Team in 2023\">delicious office catering services<\/a> for their staff. Food delivery services have been the defacto option during Covid, but boxed meals and catering trays offer unique advantages that make them attractive alternatives. In this post, we will compare the pros and cons of both options so you can determine which is best for your office catering. We&#8217;ll discuss how each option affects the environment, how cost compares with convenience, and what benefits they bring beyond providing a tasty meal. By weighing in on both boxed meals vs. catering trays, we want to ensure your team stays happy and productive at work by having the right lunch every day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-text-color wp-block-heading\" style=\"color:#008d89\">Boxed Meals Or Catering Trays For Employee Lunch?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-color wp-block-heading\" style=\"color:#008d89\">Traditional Office Catering in Trays<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/catering-meal-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"office catering trays and people eating food\" class=\"wp-image-3835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/catering-meal-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/catering-meal-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/catering-meal-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/catering-meal-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/catering-meal-700x467.webp 700w, https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/catering-meal.webp 1260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Employees share meals and try multiple flavors from a spread of office catering trays<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to traditional office catering trays, there are a few advantages that make them an attractive option for providing lunches in the workplace. For starters, they provide a wide <strong>variety<\/strong> of food options since employees have access to all dishes ordered in buffet. This allows each person to choose what appeals most to their tastes and dietary restrictions as well as <strong>connect with colleagues<\/strong> on shared dishes. Additionally, restaurant-style <strong>presentation<\/strong> makes for a more enjoyable experience than just having boxed meals delivered or packed up at home. The visual appeal of freshly prepared dishes is sure to delight everyone&#8217;s eyes as well as their taste buds! Last but not least, catering tends to be <strong>cheaper per person<\/strong> than boxed meals due to bulk pricing from restaurants, which then prefer this option as it gives their business healthier margins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The downside of using catering trays is that they tend to generate more waste than boxed meals due to a headcount that may vary significantly when your workplace is still hybrid. If your company doesn&#8217;t have boxes to allow employees to pack <strong>leftovers<\/strong> to go, this could be a dealbreaker when considering which option will work best for your office lunch needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s no surprise why restaurants love catering trays \u2013 they offer easy access to corporate markets while allowing chefs full creative freedom over the presentation and flavor profiles of the dishes at any given corporate event or get-together. Corporate clients appreciate the convenience factor associated with ordering large quantities from one source without having to worry about individual orders getting lost in transit either before or after delivery has been made, or employees forgetting to place their orders &#8211; not only does this save time but money too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-color wp-block-heading\" style=\"color:#00837e\">Boxed Meals for your office employees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/boxed-meals.webp\" alt=\"group order meals\" class=\"wp-image-3834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/boxed-meals.webp 960w, https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/boxed-meals-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/boxed-meals-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/boxed-meals-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/boxed-meals-700x467.webp 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Boxed meals allow employees to get exactly what they&#8217;re craving for<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Boxed meals offer an attractive alternative to restaurant catering trays for providing lunches in the office. They provide <strong>convenience<\/strong> by allowing employees to quickly grab a meal and go \u2013 no need to wait in line or worry about missing out on certain dishes when ordering from a restaurant. Additionally, boxed meals can be easily <strong>customized to individual tastes <\/strong>and dietary restrictions so that everyone can enjoy their lunchtime experience. The biggest advantage of boxed lunches is that <strong>food is rarely wasted<\/strong> as only employees present at work get to order the day off or the day prior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regarding environmental sustainability, many businesses opt for compostable containers which further reduces any potential negative impact these options may have on the environment while still providing delicious food choices that satisfy everyone&#8217;s cravings!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Office managers might find that a group order might actually be more work when comes the time to chase after employees who forgot to order or missed the deadline, which can turn into a stressful last-minute call with your office meal provider. Corporate companies will also want to monitor the amount spent on meals as boxed lunches tend to be more expensive, luckily companies like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/corporate-catering\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mobydish<\/a> offers a limit of dollars employees can spend when ordering their office meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-color wp-block-heading\" style=\"color:#00837e\">The Middle Ground For Your Office Catering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the main advantages of combining boxed meals and office catering trays is that it allows employers to provide their employees with a wide variety of food options while still meeting budgetary requirements. By alternating days of boxed meals and supplementing them with restaurant-style dishes on catering trays for events or days at the office with clear attendance, businesses can offer delicious restaurant experiences at an affordable price point. This type of hybrid approach also helps to accommodate any dietary restrictions or preferences they may have while giving staff members more choices than just one single option available each day. It will improve the company culture and let your team bond around amazing catering buffet-style meals from local restaurants some days and get their own boxed meal on others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to cost versus convenience, having both types of meal services available provides a great middle-ground for office lunches. Convenience remains high since these services eliminate the need for individuals to wait in line or worry about running out before everyone has been served &#8211; something that could happen if only one type of service was used exclusively over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately, combining both box meal deliveries and catered trays for corporate lunches gives companies maximum flexibility when it comes to providing delicious food choices while staying within budget and rewarding fairly the employees who&#8217;re happy being back in a work environment. With this versatile combination, you can ensure your team gets exactly what they want, so they stay energized throughout the day, every day they&#8217;re in the office!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-color wp-block-heading\" style=\"color:#00837e\">Advantages of Boxed Meals &amp; Catering Trays Combined <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/premium-saladbar.jpg\" alt=\"salad bar mobydish during an office catering in San Francisco\" class=\"wp-image-3837\" width=\"838\" height=\"629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/premium-saladbar.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/premium-saladbar-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/premium-saladbar-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 838px) 100vw, 838px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A corporate catered meal with premium service to delight the eyes as much as the palates<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond just offering tasty cuisine, having multiple meal services available gives employers a number of other benefits that help keep staff feeling energized and motivated throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having both box meal deliveries and catering trays available also helps reduce costs associated with feeding large groups in the office environment since you get access to discounts offered by bulk orders while still retaining all the convenience of traditional catering such as delivery fees and staffing requirements being taken care of already included in the cost per head price tag!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-color wp-block-heading\" style=\"color:#00837e\">The Best Office Catering Option?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In conclusion, combining box meal deliveries and catered trays for corporate lunches is a great way to provide delicious food choices while taking care of the environment and bringing employees back together. This hybrid approach helps accommodate any office need. When your headcount is predictable, the best option would be to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/corporate-catering\/office-catering\">order catering<\/a>, meanwhile on days when you&#8217;re unsure of how many people might show up, by a large amount, then we think using something like a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/corporate-catering\/group-order\">group ordering tool<\/a> would save you time and the trouble of ordering too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By making use of these two meal service options, there really is no better way for businesses today to show appreciation towards their teams than by giving them access to good quality food at an affordable price point. If you&#8217;re still unsure about what to do, just <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/contact\">connect with us<\/a>, we have plenty of catering options for your office and have been feeding the top companies in the US since 2015, we&#8217;d love to help!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Find creative ways to provide office catering services for your staff. Boxed meals and catering trays offer unique advantages that make them attractive catering options. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,55],"tags":[78,79,82,83,81,84,85,80],"class_list":["post-3833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-catering","category-office-catering","tag-boxed-meals","tag-catering-trays","tag-cost-effective","tag-employee-satisfaction","tag-environment","tag-food-delivery","tag-hybrid","tag-return-to-office"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3833"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3833\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4550,"href":"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3833\/revisions\/4550"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mobydish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}