Why You Need to Join a GPO in the Off-Season

In the bustling world of weddings and events, staying ahead of the curve is key to success. As an industry pro, you're no stranger to the constant whirlwind of events, clients, and intricate details that make each celebration unique.

But what about those quiet off-season months when the wedding bells aren't ringing as often, and you have a bit more breathing room? For event professionals, the “off-season” typically runs from December to April. Of course, this varies by region. In warmer climates, like Florida, off-season may fall in the summer as temperatures rise too high for comfort. But for most of the country, winter takes the cake in terms of downtime.

Though the off-season is the busiest time for planning, it’s also when you’ll attend fewer events—making it the perfect time to join a group purchasing organization (GPO). Below, we delve into why joining a GPO during the off-season is a savvy move that can transform your business in more ways than one. Keep reading to elevate your organization at a time when the pace temporarily slows down.

What is a GPO?

A GPO is a dynamic and innovative resource with immense potential for professionals in the catering industry. At its core, a GPO is a collective purchasing entity that brings together multiple businesses with similar purchasing needs, allowing them to leverage their combined buying power to secure exclusive discounts.

Essentially, it's like joining forces with fellow industry experts to achieve cost savings and streamline the procurement process. For caterers, a food-purchasing GPO serves as your strategic ally, offering a range of benefits that can transform your operations.

From cost-effective sourcing to valuable networking opportunities, a GPO empowers you to navigate the off-season challenges, emerging stronger and more prepared for the bustling seasons ahead.

Benefits of a GPO

Strategic planning

Strategic planning takes center stage during the off-season for caterers. This quieter period offers a unique opportunity for professionals to step back, assess their workflows, and set a clear course for the future. Strategic planning is not just about surviving the downtime but thriving in the busy season that inevitably follows.

Joining a GPO during this phase can be a pivotal component of your strategic plan. It positions you to make informed decisions that will impact your business positively when the peak season returns.

Cost savings

One of the most compelling reasons catering pros should consider joining a GPO during the off-season is its significant cost-saving potential. GPOs have the collective buying power to negotiate bulk discounts and favorable terms with suppliers and vendors, translating into substantial savings for members.

As a caterer looking to secure top-quality ingredients, being part of a GPO means accessing goods and services at prices you couldn't achieve on your own. These savings not only contribute to your bottom line but also enable you to allocate resources to other critical aspects of your business, making your services even more competitive.

Endless options

The world of catering and events is full of diverse needs and demands, and as professionals, we understand that no two celebrations are alike. This is where the true beauty of joining a GPO during the off-season comes to light. GPOs offer endless options that cater to a wide array of niches within the industry.

Unique decor, gourmet ingredients, state-of-the-art equipment, or even specialized sourcing services are all things that GPOs can provide. This diversity ensures you have abundant choices at your fingertips, making it easier to find the perfect fit for your specific event requirements.

More time in your schedule

There’s no denying that our work is fast-paced. And because of our busy schedules, time is an invaluable resource. Joining a GPO during the off-season can be an excellent move that injects more time into your schedule. GPOs streamline the procurement process by simplifying supplier relationships, negotiation, and purchasing tasks.

With a GPO handling the complexities of sourcing, contract management, and cost negotiations, you gain precious hours and peace of mind. These extra moments can be channeled into other essential aspects of your business, such as client consultations, marketing, or honing your creative skills.

How to join a GPO

Joining a GPO is a smart step to amplify your business's success. The process is typically straightforward and begins with research. Start by identifying a GPO that meets your needs, ideally one that works with a reputable supplier. For example, we are proud to work with US Foods to ensure our members get high-quality products in a timely manner.

Next, you simply need to request a quote to learn more about how you can leverage your membership. Once you join, you'll gain access to a network of suppliers and vendors, negotiated discounts, and a wealth of resources!

By considering the advantages of joining a GPO, you're not only safeguarding your business against the challenges of downtime but actively propelling it towards a brighter future. So, as you reflect on your business strategies this off-season, remember that a GPO can be the partner you need to thrive, innovate, and continue delivering magical moments to your clients!

Clint Elkins is the V.P. of Sales for SB Value, a Group Purchasing Organization that helps culinary professionals save an average of 16% on every food order. Membership is 100% free. No hidden fees. No extra work. Just extra profits. See how much you can save on your next food order when you become an SB Value member. Request a quote today.

How to Prep Your Staff for the Busy Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and indulgence. But for food service professionals, it's also a time of heightened demand and long hours. As the calendar inches closer to those festive months, one crucial element can make or break your business's success during this hectic period: your staff.

In the world of food service, your team is the backbone of your operation. They are the ones who transform culinary dreams into reality, ensuring that every dish is a masterpiece and every guest leaves with a smile. To navigate the whirlwind of the holiday season successfully, preparing your staff for the challenges and opportunities it presents is essential.

Below, we delve into the art of prepping your staff for the bustling holiday season. Whether you're a seasoned catering veteran or just getting started in the industry, these strategies will help you optimize your team's performance, enhance customer satisfaction, and ensure your business thrives amid the festivities.

Find your staffing sweet spot

Balancing your event staffing is a delicate art, where both understaffing and overstaffing can lead to costly problems. Insufficient staff can result in chaotic situations, while excess personnel can incur unnecessary costs and shrink your profit margins.

To strike the right balance, analyze your staff requirements for each type of event. Consider all factors, such as guest count, the complexity of courses, service style, bar options, and venue size, as they directly impact the level of staffing required. While adaptability remains essential, establishing baseline expectations will empower you to create realistic pay and time budgets for a successful holiday season.

Leave some wiggle room

When defining your staff requirements, remember to factor in flexibility to accommodate unforeseen circumstances. COVID-19 served as a reminder to anticipate last-minute absences and scheduling adjustments, particularly if an employee or their family falls ill.

As we approach this holiday season, maintaining adaptability is paramount, given the fast-paced nature of the end of the year. Similarly, client events may face delays or cancellations due to illness, weather, or lack of staff, potentially creating gaps in your workflow. While these situations can pose challenges, your ability to remain adaptable and go with the flow will see you through any hurdles that come your way.

Adjust your pricing

If you want to offer increased compensation to your team during the holiday season, aligning your pricing structure accordingly is vital. When you factor in higher labor costs, you can adequately reward your staff, ultimately boosting morale and enhancing their performance.

Worried about what clients might think? Don't avoid addressing their potential concerns; instead, educate them about the intricacies of creating their ideal event and how your company can deliver on that promise. Once they understand the level of service you bring to the table, they’ll be much more likely to move forward.

Manage stress and burnout

Managing stress and preventing burnout among your catering staff during the holiday season is not just a smart business move but a compassionate one. The relentless pace, long hours, and high-pressure environments can take a toll on your team. To foster their well-being, consider implementing strategies that promote a healthy work-life balance.

Encourage employees to take breaks, prioritize self-care, and maintain open lines of communication for any concerns. Offer support, recognition, and incentives for their hard work to boost confidence. Teamwork is key, so promote collaboration and mutual support among your team members.

By addressing stress and burnout head-on and prioritizing your team's well-being, you'll ensure a smoother holiday season and cultivate a dedicated and motivated workforce ready to tackle any challenge.

Streamline operations

Streamlining your operations is the backbone of success during the frantic holiday season in food service. To ensure your business runs like a well-oiled machine, start by fine-tuning your event planning and coordination processes. Map out detailed timelines and checklists for each event, leaving no room for confusion.

In the kitchen, optimize workflows to handle increased volume and closely monitor inventory to prevent last-minute shortages. Embrace technology that can simplify tasks like order management and communication with your team.

Honing these operational aspects will help you meet the demands of the holiday rush and provide a seamless experience for your clients, leaving them with lasting memories of impeccable service.

Remember: The holiday season isn't just about meeting client expectations; it's about exceeding them. As you gear up for the joyful and hectic months ahead, keep in mind that your team's dedication and preparedness will be the key to creating unforgettable moments for your clients and ensuring the continued success of your food service business.

So embrace the holiday spirit, empower your staff, and embark on a season filled with memorable events that leave a lasting mark on your clients and your bottom line!

Clint Elkins is the V.P. of Sales for SB Value, a Group Purchasing Organization that helps culinary professionals save an average of 16% on every food order. Membership is 100% free. No hidden fees. No extra work. Just extra profits. See how much you can save on your next food order when you become an SB Value member. Request a quote today.

Case Study: Queen City Catering

Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Queen City Catering is a renowned catering company that serves all types of celebrations with its detail-oriented approach to culinary excellence. Our friend, Andrew Matroni, founded Queen City Catering in 2010 and has since grown it into a well-known brand with 40+ full-time employees and a custom-built catering headquarters that covers 10,000 sq. ft. (just about a quarter acre).

Upon meeting, it was clear that Andrew had big goals set for QC Catering, and he had the motivation and creativity to achieve them. We became fast friends, but Andrew still had his hesitations about becoming a member of SB Value. He didn’t have any experience with a group purchasing organization (GPO), and he understandably wanted to ask us questions. 

Andrew is analytical by nature, asking all of the right questions as we talked about the program and how it could support QC Catering’s goals. Before long, he started to see how our model would save him money. It stands to reason that a large-scale organization with 28,000 clients and $7 billion in leverage could get better prices than any individual business. It makes sense.

But what really hit home for Andrew was the direct connection and support from US Foods. Price savings are essential for increasing your bottom line, but if you truly want to achieve sustainable growth, you also have to optimize the processes in the kitchen. And while Andrew is brilliant at what he does, he recognized that while he sees one kitchen every day, US Foods gets to see thousands of kitchens operating in different ways.

Six years later, Andrew is one of our best clients and continues to get the most out of his membership with SB Value. It’s not because he places more orders but because he asks a lot of open-ended questions. He’s always looking to learn better ways to run his kitchen. He’s constantly asking what we could do better and how US Foods can help him. 

That pursuit of “better” is why he maximizes the value of his membership, and it’s why his catering business continues to thrive. We didn’t make him a better caterer — he was already a pro by the time we met him. However, we did provide him with the resources he needed to become more efficient and profitable as a company.

That’s really the crux of a GPO’s value. Saving on food cuts down expenses, which attracts catering professionals who want to pad their profit margins. And if that’s all you’re looking for, we can definitely help you with that.

But if you want to transform how you do business on top of saving on each order, that’s where the magic happens — and we’re here to be your partners on this growth journey. Start by getting a quote today.

Building Social Proof for Your Catering Business

In today's digital age, establishing credibility and trust is more important than ever. Social proof can be a game-changer when it comes to enticing potential clients and standing out from the competition. But how can you begin building social proof for your catering business?

Take a look at our best tips on gathering social proof and leveraging it in your public relations and marketing. By doing so, you can ensure your brand becomes synonymous with excellence in the eyes of your target audience.

Audit your public presence

If applicable, start by auditing your catering business's current public presence, including your website, blog, awards, and press mentions. Imagine a potential customer stumbling upon your business today. What would they discover? Does it align with your branding and effectively convert visitors into leads, or is it time for an update?

Remember: Your website serves as the initial impression for most prospects and serves as a valuable resource for those seeking information about your business. It should feature a detailed bio, a portfolio showcasing your best work, relevant press mentions, awards, and testimonials from satisfied clients.

Pitch to different media

Keep up the momentum in your catering business by actively sharing news with the media through carefully crafted press releases and pitches. There are many opportunities to contribute your expertise on trending topics, so use your experience to position yourself as an industry leader. You can also leverage your background to secure in-person speaking engagements and podcast guest interviews.

Make the most of positive reviews

If you aren’t asking clients for testimonials, make it a standard practice at the end of each event. Encourage them to leave a review on Google, Facebook, WeddingWire, The Knot, or any other online review platforms you use. The more five-star reviews you receive, the better!

Once you gather a handful of positive reviews, start cross-promoting them across your channels. Share them on your website, social media pages, and any brochures or PDFs you provide at the beginning of your sales process. Hearing from happy clients will help new leads get a feel for how great it is to work with you. 

Create compelling case studies

When you get a particularly strong review, consider turning it into a case study that highlights the exciting results of your work. Collect related photos, quotes, statistics, and stories to display on a dedicated page on your website. When potential clients come knocking, you can point them to this page for all the positive social proof they need.

When creating your case studies, present tangible results and customer satisfaction. Dive into the details of each event and explain how you facilitated a smooth catering process from start to finish. Pair this with a few photos of your delicious plates, and you’ll wow your dream clients with the level of service you provide.

Optimize your social media presence

Your social media pages offer real-time social proof to potential clients. In an industry driven by visuals, you’ll want to focus on filling your pages with attractive imagery and video content. Establish a consistent brand aesthetic so visitors are impressed as soon as they visit your page.

Your social media pages are also a great place to showcase behind-the-scenes glimpses into your business, allowing you to highlight your expertise. Consider sharing case studies and testimonials to publish social proof and build trust online. 

Utilize influencer partnerships

Most of your clients and vendor partners will post about an event in the days after, so don’t let that free content go to waste. Encourage others to tag your business when sharing on social media so you can repost their content. It’s also worth targeting influencers in your area. Reach out to those with more significant social media followings to see if you can develop a partnership for an upcoming event. This way, you can build meaningful relationships while expanding your reach within your local market. 

Continuously gather social proof

To stay on top of your social proof efforts, you’ll need an easy way to collect and organize the content you receive. Got a new testimonial? Add it to a Google Doc or Sheet. Have recent photos taken of your food? Store them in a shared folder on a cloud drive.

Remember: Social proof is not a one-time effort but an ongoing journey. Monitor and respond to customer feedback regularly, curate your best testimonials, and seek opportunities to collaborate with influential event professionals and associations. By analyzing the impact of your social proof efforts, you can refine your approach and ensure long-term success. Start building that trust, inspiring confidence, and watch your business flourish!

Clint Elkins is the V.P. of Sales for SB Value, a Group Purchasing Organization that helps culinary professionals save an average of 16% on every food order. Membership is 100% free. No hidden fees. No extra work. Just extra profits. See how much you can save on your next food order when you become an SB Value member. Request a quote today.

Case Study: Marcia Selden Catering

Serving luxury events in New York City and Connecticut, Marcia Selden Catering is a family-run business that started in Marcia’s kitchen over 40 years ago. Today, Marcia is joined by her daughter, Robin, and son, Jeffrey, in overseeing one of the country's leading, award-winning catering companies.

We first connected with Robin through the International Caterers Association (ICA). After letting us know she wanted to try our group purchasing organization (GPO) model, she became one of the first caterers to join SB Value. 

For months, it went well. The team was busy producing for their luxury clients, and we had our hands busy onboarding more caterers. Robin saw some savings throughout that time — but the results weren’t jaw-dropping. She reached out to let us know they liked what they saw, but they were not in love (yet!).

At SB Value, we want our clients to gush over how much our GPO helps them. We’re talking head-over-heels, can’t-get-enough-of-it love — and we were not cutting it for Robin and the MSC team. Decent returns are disappointing when you know you can do better!

We got to work and did a complete audit of what MSC buys, where they buy it, and how much they spend on each order. And, let us tell you, the numbers did not lie. When Robin reviewed the audit, she saw that there were many opportunities to save that they were missing out on. We immediately worked with her to update her orders and maximize her savings, and she was more than happy to take advantage of areas where they could trim costs.

From then on, MSC has saved an average of 8-10x more each month. Think about what that could mean for your bottom line! With an average savings of 16 percent per order across our members, there are so many ways to reinvest in your business. You could open a new storefront, hire more employees, upgrade kitchen equipment, or provide educational opportunities for your team — the freedom is yours!

It all starts with joining a GPO like SB Value and leveraging the resources at your fingertips. A lot of value comes from learning from the source, and we are here to support you in scaling your catering business through simple cost savings and strategies for streamlining your kitchen. 

Our team has worked with countless catering companies to increase their bottom line, and we have learned a thing or two over the years! We can’t wait to help you find more flow in the kitchen and more profit in your bank account. Start by getting a quote today.

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Clint Elkins is the V.P. of Sales for SB Value, a Group Purchasing Organization that helps culinary professionals save an average of 16% on every food order. Membership is 100% free. No hidden fees. No extra work. Just extra profits. See how much you can save on your next food order when you become an SB Value member. Request a quote today.