In the food service industry, it’s important to cultivate the image a company wants to present to its clients. In catering, excellent food isn’teverything (although it’s essential). Part of delivering an excellent catering experience is also in making sure the various elements clients will be interacting with, staff included, all work to reinforce the idea that your company knows what it’s doing. Uniforms are one such way to help generate the impression of professionalism and even luxury.
Catering Uniform Ideas to Consider
Some ideas worth considering when choosing employee uniforms include the following:
1. Color Code
A standard black and white formal uniform is quite common among catering companies and with good reason. The colors work well together and are associated with professionalism and elite service. Many catered events also have a formal dress code. Formal uniforms help reinforce the nature of the event.
However, a black and white scheme shouldn’t be considered the only option. This is especially true if you want workers in different roles to stand out. For example, those in leadership roles might instead wear red rather than black. One could also have workers serving certain types of food, such as vegan or halal meals, marked with different uniforms or a band of a particular color, allowing guests to easily identify what works for their diet.
2. Consider Neckwear
Neckwear isn’t essential in the catering industry, but ties or bow ties are quite frequently used by catering companies to create a more professional image. Kept neat and fashionable, neckwear can again help reinforce the idea of a team well-suited to formal events. At the same time, it isn’t as if neckwear makes a team ill-suitedto less formal events; it’s rare that a client wants a team to look lessprofessional.
If you do want neckwear for your team, it’s typically a good idea to have unified requirements, so workers present a unified image of your company. As for the debate of bow ties versus traditional ties, it is largely a matter of preference (barring client requests). Many people find bow ties to project a warmer, inviting image while traditional ties may come off as more professional and serious. For service professionals, either choice has benefits over the other (and those benefits will be slight regardless).
3. Brand Stylishly
Advertising and brand awareness are important. When catering for a client, one of the easiest ways to help spread brand awareness is through branded clothing. If you do decide to brand clothing, make sure you do so without impacting how people are likely to perceive you in a negative way. Oftentimes, uniform branding works best with a small logo either on the shoulder or where a breast pocket might normally be positioned and, if desired, a larger logo on the back of a worker’s attire, with the top of the logo ending roughly between the shoulder blades.
Logo placement is an often misunderstood art, as it isn’t justabout making sure a company gets its name seen. Any branding needs to integrate with the wearers outfit well. A good logo is noticed without looking garish or out of place.
4. Stay Subtle
It’s very rare that a catering company is meant to be the centerpiece of an event. While the food served certainly plays an important part, guests are likely there for a wedding, birthday, or some other celebration. That is meant to be the focus of the event. As such, it’s important that caterer uniforms aren’t too flashy. Especially loud colors, like bright purples or neon hues, are rarely a good idea (unless the nature of an event is intended to be quite loud and flashy).
5. Consider Client Expectations
Before almost anything else, a catering company should think about what sort of image their clients would like the company to project at an event. Some clients might prefer workers to be dressed especially formally or to wear (not wear) neckwear. It’s perfectly reasonable to discuss these expectations with clients beforehand. As long as they’re reasonable, it is only to a company’s benefit to have their workers dressed the way clients prefer.
6. Stock Backups
The food service industry is one of mess; foods can splash and drinks can spill. While care and practice can help avoid some of this mess from getting onto workers, dirty clothes are, to some degree, inevitable. At any event, a catering company ought to be prepared to have workers quickly change into a clean uniform if dirtied.
It’s fairly critical that any company operating in the food industry project a sense of cleanliness and hygiene. Very little can hurt a business more than a reputation for being dirty.
Alsco Uniforms Rental Services
Fundamentally, catering staff members are typically at their best when they look professional and stylish, yet subtle enough that they aren’t the focus of a scene. They are there to serve clients and help make whatever event they’re present for a success.
It’s important that staff don’t overdress unnecessarily. At the same time, it’s also important that a client feels like their event is in good hands. It’s striking this balance that makes for the best catering uniforms.
At Alsco Uniforms, we’ve been in the business of uniform rental for over 125 years. As an industry leader, we’ve created a successful, reputable business by making sure clients of all sizes and in many different industries can equip their workers the way they need. If you’re interested in what we can offer, check out our rental services and contact our team directly with any questions.