Are you feeling the squeeze of increasing food costs on your event budget? From the bird flu to droughts, requests for organic to special dietary needs, managing your F&B can be challenging. What can you do to meet these challenges? In this session, we’ll discuss the myths and realities of whether locally sourced is more affordable or more expensive, how important is to know about dietary restrictions - whether a trend or allergy and provide options that are cost effective and customized and locally sourced. You’ll walk away with tips on how to conserve and control cost, successfully manage needs and reduce financial and legal risk.

1. Myths
Realitiesof Food & Beverage
and Cost
&presented by
Tracy StuckrathCSEP, CMM, CFPM
Thrive! Meetings & Events
@tstuckrath

2. ©December 2015 | Thrive! Meetings & Events | @thrivemeetings
essential learning
components
Plan special
requests meals &
stay on budget
Plan
meeting
F&B while
fulfilling special
needs.Evaluate Myths
& Realities of
F&B

3. Buffets and
Hors d'oeuvres
Receptions are
Less Expensive
than Plated Meals.
MYTH

4. ©December 2015 | @thrivemeetings
REALITY
Buffets and receptions can cost the
same or more than plated meals.
• Depends on the event
• Staffing the same
• Food quantities
• Removing items don't
affect cost

5. MYTH
Labor does not
effect catering
fees.

6. ©December 2015 | @thrivemeetings
• Biggest impact on catering
charges
• Union vs. non-union location
• Food preparation methods
• Action stations
• On-premise vs. off-premise
REALITY
Labor costs definitely impact
catering charges.

7. MYTH
Local Sourcing is
Cost Prohibitive

8. ©December 2015 | @thrivemeetings
• Corporate policies
• Flexibility
• Commitment of caterer
• Volume
• Customization of menu
• Labor
REALITY
It depends on caterer, local market,
season and amount of product needed.

9. ©December 2015 | @thrivemeetings
MYTH
Restaurants are more
expensive than
off-premise catered
events.

10. Caterers have to bring “everything.”REALITY

11. ©December 2015 | Thrive! Meetings & Events | @thrivemeetings
MYTH
Guests are not focused on
healthier and smaller portions

12. ©December 2015 | Thrive! Meetings & Events | @thrivemeetings
• 91% healthfulness of F&B
• 82% eating more fruits & veggies
• 69% cutting back on sugar
• 68% consuming smaller portions
• 4:5 trying to lose/maintain weight
• Food types = weight management
REALITY
People are more health conscious and
want to maintain it on the road.
Source: IFIC 2015 Food & Health Survey

13. ©December 2015 | Thrive! Meetings & Events | @thrivemeetings
MYTH
Suppliers are not flexible on
their pricing.

14. Heating, lighting, labor, season and commodities all affect priceREALITY

15. ©December 2015 | Thrive! Meetings & Events | @thrivemeetings
vegan
MYTH
Special meals for attendee
dietary restrictions cost more.
vegetarian
Kosher
organic
diabetes
egg
allergy
paleo
non-GMO

16. ©December 2015 | @thrivemeetings
• Event F&B History
• Types
• Planning Process
• Quantity
• Customization of menu
• Labor
REALITY
It depends, but it most cases it should
be negligible.

17. ©December 2015 | Thrive! Meetings & Events | @thrivemeetings
MYTH
There is no liability or risk
associated with F&B programs

18. ©December 2015 | @thrivemeetings
• Food Safety
• Workplace Safety Laws
• Disability Laws
• Allergen Labeling Laws
• EU 1169
• Stock Epinephrine
REALITY
There are definitely liabilities that fall
under our duty of care.

19. ©December 2015 | @thrivemeetings
Controlling Costs
• Smaller portions
• Flexibility
• Shorter Events
• Gang/Marry Menus
• Honest with Budgets
• Know Your Waste Factor
• Cut down catering portions

20. ©December 2015 | @thrivemeetings
Controlling Costs
• Partner with Chef
• Help Save Labor
• Variety
• Shorter Events
• Before contracts are signed
• Honest with Budgets

21. “The shared meal is no small thing.
It is a foundation…”
©December 2015 | Thrive! Meetings & Events | @thrivemeetings
Michael Pollen

22. ©December 2015 | Thrive! Meetings & Events | @thrivemeetings
(404) 242-0530
tracy@thrivemeetings.com
www.thrivemeetings.com
@tstuckrath
thrivemeetingsevents
Tracy Stuckrath
www.thrivemeetings.com/PCMAmyths