Catering biz healthy amid crisis

FOOD caterers said they are doing well, an indication that Filipinos still engage in parties and celebrate special occasions with families and friends despite the hard times.

Kathreen May Zamora, a representative of NE Catering Services, said the business climate has been “so far, so good.”

“We look forward to the “ber” months, our peak season,” she said, referring to the final four months of the year.

“There’s no crisis in food catering,” Steve Tamayo, Food Caterers Association of the Philippines president, told The Manila Times on the sidelines of the Food and Drinks Asia 2009 and Food Franchising 2009 expos in Pasay City.

“Like food, celebrations are not forgone,” he said.

According to Tamayo, requests for catering for birthday and anniversary parties, weddings, corporate events, and even funeral services continue to pour in.

The owner of Tamayo’s Catering Services, Restaurants and Flower Shop said his company expects its revenues to grow 20 percent this year.

Next year’s elections would likely further boost their business, he said.

Tamayo said there is a growing number of Filipinos who want worry-free celebrations, so they get the services of caterers instead of preparing and cooking the food themselves.

He said one can save 30 percent to 50 percent when availing of catering services, adding that some people would have to take in additional helpers or even hire cooks to do kitchen work for them.

But securing the services of a caterer will practically take away the hassles of preparing and serving food for party needs, he said.

Most catering companies offer promos and flexible packages that will suit limited budgets, he said.

The prospects of food catering remains lucrative that Hazel Flores, an events organizer, recently put up a catering business.

Before, they had to outsource the catering for the events her company organizes, Flores said. But now her own catering company called EZ Sensation Cuisine serves the food at their various functions.

Flores claims having shelled out more than half a million pesos to purchase food equipment and utensils for her catering business. Even though the prices of food, such as pork and vegetables, have gone up lately, Flores remains bullish about her new business.

She has already lined up the various events she will spearhead until the end of the year, adding that inquiries keep coming in. –Ben Arnold O. De Vera, Reporter, Manila Times