Catering: The Big Ticket Hijack

Catering is the "Holy Grail" of fast casual profitability — high average checks, predictable prep times and massive brand exposure. But if third-party marketplaces are your only path to those orders, you're leaving a meaningful share of that value on the table.

The brands winning the catering game in 2026 aren't ditching their marketplace partners. They're doing both: strengthening those relationships while building a direct connection with the corporate guest. Third-party platforms can introduce new customers and drive incremental volume, while a strong first-party strategy gives brands the ability to build lasting B2B relationships, create a better ordering experience and capture more of the value over time.

This session is a tactical deep dive into building a professional, frictionless catering operation that works alongside your marketplace strategy — not against it — and helps make your brand the default choice for every board meeting, office lunch and celebration in your zip code.

Goal: Build a stronger, more balanced catering strategy that grows third-party partnerships while creating a scalable first-party B2B channel. Learn how to capture high-volume orders, build direct relationships with corporate guests and keep more margin in-house — without sacrificing the reach and volume your marketplace partners provide.