Catering is one of the highest-margin revenue streams available to independent restaurants, and it doesn’t require a single new seat. One office lunch can bring in sales today and put your food in front of 20 to 30 potential new regulars.

Catering is also growing fast. The market is projected to reach over $124B by 2032, and it could make up nearly 10% of total restaurant sales by 2030. 

In our catering research at ChowNow, we see a clear pattern: many catering orders are not weddings or huge formal events. They are midsize, everyday group meals for 20 to 50 people, often booked with less than a week of lead time.

In this article, you’ll learn:
  • Where to feature catering so customers can find it fast
  • How to bring in corporate catering orders with simple outreach
  • How to turn one-time catering buyers into repeat clients with direct ordering and follow up
  • 9 catering marketing ideas you can put into action without adding hours of manual work

1. Give Catering Its Own Page on Your Website

A woman with glasses working on a laptop at a café table, smiling as she types.

Give catering a dedicated spot in your main website navigation so customers can find it in one click. Your catering page should make it obvious what you offer, what headcount it fits, and how to order. The more clarity you give up front, the more likely someone books with you without a bunch of back-and-forth.

 If a customer has to call or email just to see if you can feed their team, you might lose them to a competitor who offers instant answers.

2. Use Email and SMS to Win Repeat Catering Orders

Repeat orders are where catering really grows. When customers order directly through your restaurant, you keep the customer details and can follow up for the next meeting or event.

Start simple: send a short “Need to feed a group again soon?” email to your regulars and past catering customers before busy seasons and local moments. If you use an email and SMS marketing tool, you can stay in front of customers without adding more work to your week.

ChowNow icon

ChowNow restaurants with a 1,000-diner email list generated ~$10K in annual attributed revenue from automated emails alone, with meaningful upside as they expand into SMS and grow their audience.

3. Ask for Reviews After Every Catering Order

Social proof matters for catering, especially when someone is ordering on behalf of a boss or a large group. They want to know you are reliable and on time.

After a successful catering order, send a quick follow up and ask for a review on your main review platform. Reviews that mention things like on time delivery, easy pickup, or perfect for our office meeting help future customers feel confident ordering from you.

4. Promote Catering Inside Your Restaurant

Your dining room is a billboard. The people eating your food right now are the same people who might need a graduation spread or a team lunch next month.

Place a small sign or poster near the register with a QR code that leads directly to your catering menu. It is a low-effort way to plant the seed that you handle large events.

5. Use Packaging and Flyers to Get Orders

Takeout customers are already sold on your food. Make sure they know they can order it for a crowd.

Slip a postcard or flyer into every takeout bag that says “We Cater” and includes a link to your ordering page. You can also include a simple reorder reminder in catering orders, like a card that says “Planning another group meal soon? Order direct here.” It is a small touch that nudges customers toward the second order.

6. Optimize Your Google Business Profile for Catering

When someone searches “catering near me,” your Google Business Profile can be the difference between getting the order or getting skipped. Make sure your profile mentions catering, links directly to your catering ordering page, and includes photos of real catering setups so customers know what to expect.

7. Get Corporate Clients with Direct Outreach

Overhead view of a group sharing catering trays, showing the group ordering opportunity independent restaurants can grow with direct online ordering

You do not need a sales team to land corporate catering. You just need a simple outreach habit.

Start with a few nearby businesses that order food regularly, like medical offices, law firms, studios, schools, or dealerships. Send a short note that you are nearby, you cater for groups, and you have an easy way to order. Keep it friendly and simple, then follow up once.

8. Post Catering Content on Social Media

Social media is great for showing the scale of what you do. A photo of a single burger is appetizing, but a video of your team assembling 50 boxed lunches shows you are a serious catering operation.

Post behind-the-scenes content of your team prepping large orders. Highlight specific occasions like “Teacher Appreciation Week” or “Game Day Watch Parties” to give your followers ideas for when to book you.

9. Make It Easy to Order Catering Directly from Your Website

Restaurant staff member beside a catering order interface on a phone screen, showing online catering ordering and pickup scheduling

All this marketing effort is wasted if the ordering experience is difficult. Corporate buyers are busy. They do not want to fill out a “Contact Us” form and wait 24 hours for a quote.

The best catering pages offer a clear, direct ordering path for standard catering, so customers can place an order without waiting for a quote. Make expectations obvious up front, like lead times, minimums, and pickup or delivery windows.

If you manage multiple ordering channels, keeping them organized via order aggregation can help your team stay calm during busy shifts.

Ready to Grow Your Catering Business?

These ideas are the high level moves. If you want the full how-to, including pricing guidance, operational guardrails, and templates you can copy and use, download the Catering Playbook for Busy Kitchens.

The Ultimate Catering Playbook for Restaurants, a free ChowNow guide to restaurant catering marketing, pricing, and online ordering

Or, if you are ready to see how ChowNow helps restaurants take catering orders directly and grow repeat business, you can also book a demo here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Catering Marketing

What is catering marketing?

Catering marketing is how you help customers discover your catering, trust your restaurant, and order without friction. It includes your website, Google presence, outreach, and follow ups that drive repeat orders.

How do I promote catering on my Google Business Profile?

Make catering obvious in your profile and link directly to your catering ordering page. Add photos of real catering setups and keep your info updated so customers can choose you quickly.

How do I market my restaurant catering to corporate clients?

Corporate buyers care about reliability and ease. Make ordering simple, offer clear packages for groups, and build a light outreach habit with nearby offices and organizations.

Is third party catering worth it?

It can be useful for discovery, especially when you are building awareness. The best long term strategy is to make it easy for repeat customers to order directly from your restaurant next time.

Do I need a catering manager to grow sales?

Not necessarily. Many restaurants grow catering by making standard orders easy to place online, setting clear expectations up front, and using simple follow ups to drive repeat business.