Catering Supplies and Equipment

The success of catering a buffet depends, in large part, on having all your catering equipment and supplies on-site and within easy reach. Each item in the list below serves a purpose on the buffet line and makes it easier for you to serve guests:

In addition, a catering service needs beverage dispensers, coffee makers, and coffee urns to provide hot and cold drinks to diners. For lunch and evening buffets, caterers may need a selection of bartender supplies and a portable bar. Food storage is essential for transporting food to buffet locations, and caterers also need the right flatware, dinnerware, and glassware. Many caterers prefer melamine dinnerware, which combines style with durability.

Ordering wholesale catering supplies through an established catering supply store such as Chefs’ Toys decreases the price of catering equipment. As with all commercial kitchen equipment, catering supplies vary in price depending on style, size, and capacity. Your most expensive equipment will likely be your chafing dishes, chafer griddles, heat lamps, coffee makers, and beverage dispensers.

As any catering supply store can attest, some catering equipment brands are superior to others. When looking for catering supplies, watch for the following brands:

The cost of catering supplies is a large investment, but not one you’ll need to make often. The profit margin for an established catering business ranges from 7-8%, as overhead is typically lower than for restaurants. Typically, a startup catering company can expect to make $30,000 to $40,000 a year, while larger, more established caterers can make over $80,000.

Chefs’ Toys has all the catering equipment you need to take your catering business to the next level. For help from our food service professionals, complete the form on this page.