Smarter services: why more businesses are outsourcing workplace catering

Outsourcing catering services can open up valuable opportunities for businesses - bringing in specialist support enhances operations and elevates the overall experience in the workplace. By partnering with experts who do this successfully every day, organisations can remove a significant burden from their in-house teams. Rather than worrying about logistics, quality, or change management, they can rely on the professionals to enhance their team's daily experience and ensure smooth operations with consistency and care. More and more businesses are recognising the value in making this shift, not because they have to, but because it brings lasting benefits.

In fact, recent industry data shows that over 60% of companies now outsource at least one non-core service, with catering ranking among the most commonly transitioned functions. Why? Because when done right, it means gaining a partner who brings expertise, innovation, cost savings and consistency.

Carving space for success

Eurest is the leading expert for business and industry food and beverage solutions. We’re perfectly placed to help maximise your business’s potential, by allowing you to do what you do best. Click on the cards below to find out more about our experience and expertise.

Why outsource your workplace catering?

Outsourcing is becoming an increasingly popular choice—and for good reason, as businesses discover the advantages it brings. Partnering with an established catering provider has numerous benefits that can impact your business positively, such as:

Cost-effectiveness. Outsourcing trims the cost of staffing and offers catering packages that are tailored to match your budgets, paving the way for clarity and control. Using efficient processes, advanced food technology, and ongoing optimisation strategies, outsourcing controls and reduces operational costs.

Quality. Catering companies bring skilled chefs to the table with expertise in creating nutritious and delicious meals. By offering diverse menu options and adhering to strict hygiene standards, dietary needs can be met while food safety is maintained.

Efficiency. Outsourcing saves time, enabling your business to dedicate resources to primary operations and fully focus on core responsibilities.

Adaptability. Catering services can be scaled up or down in line with demand, offering flexibility and the scope to accommodate larger events. Menus can be fine-tuned in line with preferences, taking everything from allergy concerns to wider organisational values into account.

Improved experience. Professional catering ensures that food looks as good as it tastes. Creative presentation and seamless service turn a daily necessity into a positive feature for the workforce that boosts morale and instills a sense of being valued.

Professional network access. Catering providers are well-placed in the supply chain to connect with event planners, street food pop-ups and equipment rental services, putting solutions to problems at your disposal.

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Why choose Eurest?

Outsourcing to Eurest means gaining a trusted partner with 50 years of expertise in food and beverage. Our goal is to create an environment where your workforce can thrive.  With high-quality services, value for money, and fresh menus tailored to your colleagues’ preferences, Eurest has everything you need to transform your workplace. Our bespoke solutions include:

  • Tailored food and service 
  • Culinary innovation
  • Cost control strategies
  • A clear sustainability roadmap
  • The latest foodservice technology to minimise queues and give employees access to refreshments 24/7
  • Exclusive insights from Global Eating at Work  
  • The Power of Socialisation and consumer insights that shape our offer
  • A proven customer feedback system to drive satisfaction
  • Regional chefs and ops managers to boost food quality
  • A Head of Coffee bringing great coffee, every time
  • A dedicated team of subject matter experts to support your growth, including specialists in nutrition and sustainability. 

Frequently asked questions

A dedicated team of over 60 specialists oversees our ISO 9001-certified supply chain, ensuring that only the finest, freshest ingredients reach our sites. This accreditation reflects the excellence of our quality management system and the high standards we set for our suppliers. Through efficient processes, advanced food technology, and ongoing optimisation strategies, we control and reduce operational costs. Our experienced operations and finance teams carefully manage profit and loss through robust cost control measures.

Absolutely. As a catering partner, we do not have an “off-the-shelf” solution; each contract and team are taken on their own merits, and we will agree on a best-in-class solution to suit your needs. Our flexible approach means you maintain influence over key elements while benefiting from our industry knowledge. 

At Eurest, we prioritise investing in our people through comprehensive training and development. Our approach includes a thorough induction phase for new or transferring colleagues, bespoke Customer Promise training aligned with your values, and continuous development opportunities through career pathways, apprenticeships, and skill-enhancing programmes.  

These initiatives help us maintain a motivated, skilled workforce that delivers consistent, high-quality service. Our 99% retention rate with client partnerships speaks to how we care for our team. 

When transitioning teams, we take time to understand your company culture and embed it into our training and service delivery. Through our comprehensive induction programme, partnership charter, cultural immersion and daily huddles to promote teamwork and unity, we ensure your values are reflected in everything we do. Our focus on employee well-being and recognition is designed to ensure your teams feel connected and valued. 

During the TUPE process, employees retain their existing terms and conditions, ensuring a smooth transition. We provide clear communication, dedicated support, and access to new career development opportunities and training programmes. With enhanced training and growth potential, your teams will benefit from long-term career prospects and ongoing support. 

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Value for money

As part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, we deliver expertise and efficiency in every partnership. We help 119 partners across 374 sites achieve cost-saving initiatives of up to 50%, all while enhancing employee satisfaction. By harnessing the power of Foodbuy, our dedicated procurement division, we manage over £1 billion in purchasing across 70+ specialised categories. This provides access to a vast, trusted network of suppliers, ensuring exceptional value and quality.

By partnering with us, you benefit from:

  • Unrivalled scale and purchasing leverage
  • Market-leading pricing and deep category expertise
  • An award-winning procurement framework
  • Effective inflation management
  • Collaborative cost-saving initiatives without compromise on quality 
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A service that cares about your people

What is your catering team's current attrition rate? If it’s not industry-leading, we can help. Recruitment in the food and beverage industry can be difficult. With over 2,500 employees, however, we can focus on ensuring your on-site catering team is well supported. We offer benefits that motivate them to perform at their best and promote high retention.  

Our 99% retention rate with client partnerships speaks to how we care for our team and our client teams. We offer diverse training options, including:

  • Mentoring and coaching
  • Individual career pathways
  • Site visits for knowledge sharing
  • Apprenticeships including the award-winning Marcus Waring Culinary Programme – Forward

Client testimonial

“Where Eurest excels is their ability to adapt to the customer requirements and they brought in a nutritionist who has been instrumental in changing the way that we approach our menus. Having a supplier who ties up with our own vision for our workforce and our own future is absolutely critical. Eurest have demonstrated that they understand how important experience, sustainability and fresh ingredients in their menus are.

We have relied very heavily on Eurest and their recommended suppliers to allow us to make sure that when we've invested in new facilities, we’ve got the best possible suppliers. I feel hugely positive that together we bring about some fantastic changes for our teams.” 

Graham Spencer, Catering Contract Manager at Jaguar Land Rover. 

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Menus that keep teams happy and thriving

At Eurest, we create experiences that excite, fuel, and connect people. Flavour-first, sustainability-powered, and driven by data, we create food that innovates as much as it evolves. We’re all about local, fresh, and sustainable sourcing that’s smarter, faster, and more efficient.

Crafting fresh, tailored menus that meet your team’s needs is at the heart of what we do. From vibrant salad bars and deli counters to everyday favourites, global flavours and a range of exciting food brands, there’s something for everyone. By partnering with an expert food and beverage provider, your teams can enjoy on-trend dishes designed with culinary and nutritional oversight and expertise, boosting meal uptake.

With an agile approach to menu development, we create menus to suit your demographics, enhance dining experiences and reinforce your commitment to well-being, retention, and employee engagement.

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Smart food technology

We’re here to make skipping lunch a thing of the past. Our flexible food service technology solutions make refuelling and refreshing easier than ever, even on your busiest office days. Innovative technology to support your business growth includes:

  • Smart vending machines, providing 24-hour access to food and beverages
  • The Time2Eat user-friendly meal delivery app, allowing for convenient food delivery and collection
  • 24/7 frictionless micro markets, bringing retail to the workplace to cater for all requirements
  • Digital kiosk ordering, reducing queue times and food waste
  • AI tray scanning tills, eliminating queues at tills with a 15 second payment journey
  • We’re making it easy to enjoy nutritious food and beverages at work anytime, anywhere.  

Got some food for thought?

Whether you’d like to chat about our food services, or you’ve got a question about our initiatives, we’re always happy to help. Pop your details into the form below and we’ll be in touch.

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