The warm weather has finally arrived. That means the beginning of the corporate outings, with hot dogs and burgers and even lobsters for companies with bigger budgets. But local catering-service providers say their corporate clients are still carefully watching what they spend and many are opting for less expensive foods and fewer bells and whistles.
Bill Powell is the founder and owner of Powell Catering, a Harrison-based full-service caterer for Westchester and Rockland counties and southern Connecticut. Powell, who founded his catering business in 1983, said his regular clientele are not yet going “as elaborate as they used to go.” His business caters about 20 events per week, with some 100 attendees for each outing on average. Most of his corporate customers are mid-to-small companies in New York and Connecticut.
Keeping it simple
Powell has catered everything from luncheons to cruises, outings in Central Park in New York City to events on beaches and islands. But he said companies are not yet going with bells and whistles since the economy took a downturn a few years ago. “We have a very strong corporate and residential base,” he said. “But for some of the companies, their businesses downsized a little bit. Some are still having difficult times and say, ”˜I couldn”™t give (a) Christmas bonus”™ or ”˜I am laying people off. I can”™t sure as hell have lobsters.”™”
Even clients that buy top-of-the-line menus are opting out of more expensive extras, according to Powell. “They just have a nice lobster dinner and that”™s now it. They still want to show their appreciation to their employees but they don”™t want to make it gaudy.”
Some companies also admit that while they do want to have nice outings for their employees, they don”™t quite have the budget they need to make it a memorable event. “Some companies say, ”˜We are having a ”¦ hard time,”™” he said. “These customers showed good faith in me over the years. And you know, I make things work for them, to keep them happy.”
A lot of smaller companies that used to have events at county parks are now planning to have outings at their bosses”™ homes, he said. “They are trying to save $4- or $500 these parks are starting to charge. So they are inviting people back to the house.”
His corporate clients are “just concerned about what the economy is bringing,” Powell said. “They might not be replacing a few employees. For some companies, their parties used to have 90 to 100 people and now it might be 50 to 60. But they are still treating their employees with the respect and professionalism and courtesy that they deserve and I”™ve got to treat them the same way.”
For companies with small budgets, he has introduced a pre-season barbecue special, a $29.95-per-person deal that includes everything, he said. “And that seems to be very popular for my customers.”
Overall, he said, the corporate business has been holding fairly steady despite the sluggish economy and this year could turn out to be a pretty good year. He acknowledged the corporate-outing business was down slightly during the past couple of years but that his retail side has picked up. “Some companies haven”™t done outings, clambakes and the barbecues because of the economy but people have been ordering clambakes and barbecue-type foods and got it themselves. A lot of people continue to do things, but they are doing things a little differently.”
”˜Still very budget-conscious”™
The Great American BBQ Co., a White Plains-based full-service caterer, serves Westchester and Fairfield counties as well as towns in New Jersey. David Pellon, its catering director, also agreed that companies remain very budget-conscious. “This year, it seems to be that we have customers who are still conscientious ”¦ they haven”™t been spending.”
Pellon has introduced a special corporate menu for the cost-conscious clientele. “Our ”˜price-buster”™ menu is approximately 15 percent less than our other, regular menus. And that”™s what corporations are really starting to book during the week,” he said.
“But companies are also looking for some upgrades and adding features onto their parties. They are asking about upgrades for entertainment, games and rides to make their outings more enjoyable for the whole family.”
Pellon and his staff cater for small- and mid-sized companies as well as for a “handful” of Fortune 500 clients, he said, adding he has good bookings for the season. “So far, we have about 40 corporate-outing events pre-booked for May. And about 60 events booked for June and 35 for July right now. And for August, probably about 40 corporate events have been booked. Our bookings this year are up 8 percent.”
