All storiesA real order
Ordering for a big group when the headcount keeps moving.
The number on the order is rarely the number in the room, and that's normal. This is how we run large orders, and what to do when the count changes.
Questions offices askHow big can the order be, and what if the headcount changes?
Most office managers have heard some version of it: ordered for 50, the caterer stopped answering, the food showed up at 12:40. So before you hand a big order to anyone, you want to know if they've done this size before, whether they'll be on time, and who picks up the phone if they aren't.
Fair things to ask. These are our answers, with the orders behind them.
The size
Our largest single headcount this year was 145, a Saturday event picked up at 1:45 PM. The biggest deliveries went to a denim brand's office in El Segundo, an insurance agency in Woodland Hills (twice) and a supplement company in the hills. A fashion headquarters in Beverly Hills took 88 individually labeled boxes one week in July, then 79 more two weeks later.
Large orders get a delivery window in writing, 15 minutes wide. We confirm the floor, the loading dock and who to ask for, because on a 50-person order the building's rules are half the work. Every tray and box is labeled, and our own team drives them over.
The headcount that kept growing
Three orders from one hospital coordinator are pretty typical.
March: 18 on the order, with a note to "please add tableware for 24." April: 15 on the order, "enough for 20 to 25." May: 20 on the order, "enough of each for 45."
Each time, she told us as soon as she knew. We set tableware and serving utensils to the bigger number and told her which tray to add so the food would go further. Nobody went without.
An office in Century City changed one order three times this month before it went out. We made all three changes.
When the number moves
Message us as soon as you know, whether it's going up or down. We'll tell you what changes. Usually that's a tray added or taken off, boxes adjusted one for one, and plates and utensils to match. Then you get a confirmation of the new order.
Same-day additions are limited, and we'll tell you plainly what we can add.
We don't guess at headcounts. If the order says 20 and 45 people show up, there's food for 20 unless you told us otherwise, so please tell us.
Planning something similar?
Tell us the headcount, the date, and any dietary lines. We'll suggest a menu that fits.
Next question: How far ahead do I need to order, and when and where do you deliver?