Catering Archives

Apr 07

Sales Meeting Ideas

By Alexa Biscotto Catering, Tips

Motivation and productivity have become leading workplace challenges. Today, 10% of workers spend more than 15 hours each week in meetings. This excess can lead to what researchers call “meeting hangover” — a phenomenon that reduces efficiency and attentiveness.

If you overschedule your sales team’s calendars with countless invitations, you’ll see the cost reflected in wasted time, missed opportunities, disengaged talent and declining results. But you don’t have to accept bland, uninspiring sales meetings as the norm. By strategically changing how you structure and run these occasions, you can transform them from dreaded obligations into valuable opportunities that boost team performance and drive better sales outcomes.

Why Investing in Better Sales Meetings Matters

Poorly run meetings drain time, create confusion and lower productivity. Organized, well-structured meetings avoid those pitfalls by strengthening communication and sharpening focus.

Team Engagement and Morale

Purposeful meetings reinforce the message that you value your team’s time, making them more likely to contribute and stay focused.

The opposite is also true — disorganized meetings often create lingering frustration and detachment that adversely impact your culture.

Creative Problem-Solving and Innovation

Meetings should be welcome opportunities for collaboration, not status updates you can quickly summarize in an email. Effective sales meetings create room for the brainstorming and problem-solving that are hard to spark without face‑to‑face conversation.

When you bring your team together to talk through their sales challenges, you give them a chance to think through how they’d handle those situations before encountering them in the field. They also pick up new strategies from their peers. As people share experiences and ideas, the entire team uncovers better selling strategies. That collective effort builds a more adaptable sales force.

Skill Development and Alignment

Positioning your meetings as venues for group training and professional development will create a perception that they are more valuable. Dedicating time to new sales tactics or strategies during team meetings puts everyone on the same page, where they can grow together and improve their tactics.

This investment matters beyond immediate skill-building. Businesses that provide ongoing training and career development tools are 17% more likely to feel confident in attracting qualified talent and 34% more confident in retaining it.

3 Actionable Ideas for Your Next Sales Meeting

If your usual agenda has gotten stale, a few simple changes can make it more energizing and worthwhile. Try these easy, out-of-the-box sales meeting ideas to bring new life to your weekly rhythm.

3 actionable ideas for your next sales meeting.

1. Reshape the Format

Meetings don’t always have to follow a classroom-style format with everyone listening to a single speaker. Mix things up to keep your team engaged and prevent tedium from setting in.

You could:

Have presentations followed by Q&A periods where team members can explore topics that matter to them.
Schedule informal brainstorming sessions with professional boxed lunch catering, where collaboration happens naturally over food.
Host workshops where everyone tackles a current sales challenge together.
Run morning meetings complete with tasty office breakfast catering, where each person presents their most valuable takeaway from the previous week.

Varying your format keeps interest high, drives engagement and signals to your team that you’re willing to invest creativity into making their time worthwhile.

When planning sales kick-offs or standing meetings, consider rotating themes and topics to match the content and energy you need.

2. Introduce Engaging Topics

Relevant, timely content delivers value. Your sales meeting topics should be engaging and immediately applicable to your team’s daily work. Examples of content that can achieve this goal may be:

Team success stories to inspire and show what’s possible.
Industry news and updates, followed by discussions to understand how changes affect your team’s operations and strategy.
Competitive intelligence reviews and brainstorming sessions on how to position against new market entrants.
Analysis of a recent win or loss to extract immediately applicable lessons.

3. Provide Concrete Details

Meetings that lack structure can quickly veer off-topic and make participants feel that they’re spinning their wheels. Creating an agenda shows your team that you respect their time and have put genuine thought into planning.

Set firm start and end times, then stick to them. If the discussion threatens to run long, quickly rein it in and choose a logical time to continue.
Share each meeting’s agenda in advance, so everyone knows what to expect.
Clarify what goals you hope to accomplish in each session.

Results-Driven Meeting Frameworks

Even the best sales team meeting ideas need a solid structure to succeed. Here are three simple agenda templates you can adapt to your team’s needs.

The 45-Minute Weekly Team Huddle

Use this weekly framework to focus on short-term goals, updates and ongoing sales projects without eating up too much of your team’s time.

Weekly wins: Start the meeting with a five-minute celebration of recent successes to build momentum and morale.
Tackle a common challenge: Spend 15 minutes brainstorming about an obstacle currently facing the team.
Discussion exercise: Use the next 15 minutes to discuss a specific tactic, listen to a successful call recording together or collaborate on a new approach. Keep it focused and immediately actionable.
Finalize action items: In the final 10 minutes, reiterate who’s responsible for accomplishing specific tasks before the next meeting. Ensure everyone leaves with clear expectations.

The 30-Minute Skill-Builder Workshop

This framework works well for biweekly or monthly meetings focused on teaching your team new skills. A team member, manager or external speaker can lead these sessions.

Introduction: Spend the first five minutes on an explanation of what you’ll cover, why it matters and how it applies to current sales goals.
Interactive exercise: Encourage your team to actively practice the skill for 15 minutes.
Q&A and takeaways: Use the last 10 minutes to answer questions, reiterate your primary talking points and give people a chance to get answers to anything they’re uncertain about.

The Long-Term Sales Meeting

Use this framework quarterly or annually to revisit your long-term goals and recalibrate strategic direction.

Performance overview: Take the first 10 minutes to celebrate wins, review performance against targets and discuss what has changed since the last meeting.
Open discussion: Encourage sales team members to spend 15 minutes describing their recent successes or challenges.
Industry trends discussion: Incorporate a 20-minute analysis of upcoming changes and trends that may affect your team. Ask them to identify emerging patterns or shifts they’ve noticed in their conversations with prospects and customers.
Break: Building in a 15-minute break gives everyone a chance to relax and reset. Depending on the time of day, a nourishing sandwich catering service can provide the perfect pick-me-up.
Team goals creation: Spend 20 minutes setting quarterly or annual goals and discussing how to achieve them.
Q&A: Open the floor for a final 10 minutes to address concerns, clarify expectations and ensure everyone leaves on the same page.

Fuel Your Team With Better Meetings and Better Food

Effective sales meetings are an essential investment in your success, not just another appointment on a crowded calendar. Quality food is one of the simplest ways to boost morale and show your team how much you appreciate them. A well-catered meeting sets a positive tone, keeps energy levels high and demonstrates you’re willing to go the extra mile for your people.

Apple Spice Catering has served our clients for over 30 years, delivering fresh, individually packaged meals to businesses and meetings of all sizes. From boxed lunches to full breakfast spreads, we understand what busy professionals need.

To take your sales meetings to the next level, find a location near you and get started today.

Apr 03

Understanding the Sunshine Act and Meal Limits for the Health Care Industry

By Alexa Biscotto Catering, Tips

The Sunshine Act requires health care companies to report meals provided to physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners, among others. Each meal must have an assigned, per-person value and tie back to the person who received it.

Tracking these details can be challenging during group events such as seminars, workshops and conferences. Thankfully, ordering corporate catering can make reporting these meals more manageable. Learn about the Sunshine Act meal limits and how a reliable corporate caterer can ease reporting.

What Is the Sunshine Act?

The Sunshine Act, or the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, is a U.S. law designed to increase transparency in the health care industry. As part of the Affordable Care Act, PPSA requires applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations to report payments or items of value given to:

Physicians — doctors of medicine, surgeons, podiatrists, dentists, clinical psychologists, optometrists, chiropractors and osteopathic practitioners
Physician assistants
Nurse practitioners
Clinical nurse specialists
Certified registered nurse anesthetists
Certified nurse-midwives
Teaching hospitals

Who Must Report Under the Sunshine Act?

Reporting requirements apply to applicable manufacturers and GPOs.

Applicable manufacturers are companies operating in the U.S. that produce drugs, medical devices, biologicals or medical supplies that are eligible for reimbursement by Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. To qualify, drugs and biologicals must require a prescription or a physician’s authorization, and devices must require FDA premarket approval or notification. Distributors or wholesalers that hold title to these products — and companies under common ownership with a primary applicable manufacturer — also qualify when they support the life cycle of covered products.

GPOs are U.S.-based entities that purchase, arrange for or negotiate the purchase of these same covered products.

Exemptions apply to:

Companies that generate less than 10% of their total revenue from covered products.
Companies without a U.S. presence.
Raw material or component manufacturers.
Hospitals or labs that produce products solely for their patients.

What Must You Report and Where?

Since the Sunshine Act treats meals as items of value, your organization must track and report any qualifying meal provided.

When reporting, you will need to specify:

Who received the meal, including their name, business address, specialty, National Provider Identifier and state license number.
How much it was worth in dollars.
The date of receipt.
The type of payment involved.
What it was for.

All these details are available in a public database called Open Payments, managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. If you fail to report under the Sunshine Act meal guidelines, you may face a fine of $1,000 to $10,000 for each unreported payment. The maximum fine for all unreported items in a year is $150,000. If you knowingly fail to report, fines range from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation, with a maximum annual penalty of $1 million.

Current Meal Reporting Guidelines for the Sunshine Act

To fully understand the Sunshine Act and meal limits for the health care industry, you should know what meals you must report and when.

Reportable Meals

Most meals provided to covered recipients in a professional setting are reportable, including:

Breakfast deliveries for teams and early morning meetings.
Catered office lunches for work groups and departments.
Sandwiches for lunch-and-learn sessions.
Boxed meals for meetings, seminars or conferences.
Gift snack baskets.

Buffet-style catering setting for a large group.

An exception applies only when it is impractical to identify who consumed the food and drinks, such as when providing meals in a buffet-style setting to a large group. But if you can establish identities, even at large-scale events, you must allocate and report the total cost across attendees.

Reporting Thresholds and Timelines

Each year, the CMS updates the thresholds that manufacturers and GPOs must follow, adjusting them based on the consumer price index.

In 2026, you need to report meals costing more than $13.82, as well as lower-cost meals once their combined annual value exceeds $138.13 per recipient. The deadline for submitting reports to the CMS is the 90th day of each calendar year, covering the previous year’s data. CMS publishes reports annually on Jan. 30.

Other Reporting Exemptions

There are other exemptions to the Sunshine Act reporting requirements. Applicable manufacturers and GPOs do not report meals provided to covered recipients whom they employ, and if the covered recipient receives them purely as a patient, not as a health care provider.

State Considerations

While the Sunshine Act overrides state laws for identical information disclosure, local regulations may still impose strict limits. Companies must therefore regularly review specific state requirements to ensure compliance. These seven states, plus Washington, D.C., have laws similar to the Sunshine Act:

California
Connecticut
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Nevada
West Virginia

Given the detailed Sunshine Act reporting requirements and potential penalties, having a structured system for ordering and tracking meals is paramount. Partnering with an experienced corporate caterer can help you confidently comply with the Sunshine Act.

How Apple Spice Catering Can Help

You won’t have to worry about losing track of meals when you order from us.

Individually packaged meals: We pack every meal separately, with the entrée, sides and extras contained in one clearly assigned order. There are no shared trays, so you always know what everyone received.
Named labeling for every order: Whether you order five or 5,000 sandwiches, you can label each meal with the recipient’s name, making on-site distribution simple and reporting straightforward.
Online ordering system: You can collect names, meal selections, quantities and costs in one place and save digital receipts that are easier to reference when it is time to report to the CSM.
Flexible handling of special requests: At Apple Spice Catering, we fulfill dietary needs and individually mark custom orders. Every recipient receives what they wanted and no one will want to switch, which complicates tracking.

Your Catering Partner in Compliance and Convenience

We have been delivering meals to companies since 1988, building a reputation for reliability, consistency and service you can count on. What started in Salt Lake City has grown into a network of over 30 locations across the country.

Regardless of where you order, you can expect the same high standard. We prepare every meal fresh and deliver it directly from our kitchens. You will eat on time, every time. We also accommodate last-minute and specific dietary needs.

Browse our menus and order your meals online today.

Feb 13

How to Celebrate National Tea Day at Work

By Alexa Biscotto Catering, Tips

While tea may seem like a simple drink, there’s more to it than most of us realize. Tea is an ancient infusion of leaves and water with a rich history spanning continents. National Tea Day is a great excuse to celebrate tea, learn more about it, connect over a cup and perhaps do something fun with your co-workers.

When Is National Tea Day This Year?

National Tea Day is celebrated on April 21 every year. Whether you prefer black, milky, herbal or iced tea, this is the perfect day to grab your favorite mug, teacup or glass and take a mindful moment to appreciate tea and its cultural significance.

National Tea Day History

Every cup of tea holds a story of tradition, hard work and global connections. The tea industry touches millions of lives worldwide, from tea workers and small-scale growers to corporate companies and the many everyday people who find comfort and joy in drinking this beverage. National Tea Day’s history dates back to 2015, when The Tea Group in Britain founded this day of celebration. Countries worldwide celebrate this day alongside the U.K., sipping in reverence for those who were already consuming tea 5,000 years ago in China.

Fun Ways to Celebrate National Tea Day at Work

If you’re wondering how to celebrate National Tea Day, here are two fun options — both of which are a great way to bring people together.

Host a Tea Party in the Office

Invite your employees or co-workers to a tea party where you can serve tea and enjoy each other’s company. Tea is always better with cookies and snacks, so order tea and food from a trusted corporate catering company and relax into the celebrations.

Organize a Bring-and-Share Tea-Tasting Event

Another idea is to order lunch to accompany a tea-tasting office event. Invite employees to bring their favorite hot tea from home, and do a swap so everyone can try a new type of tea with their catered meal.

You can also order various flavors of iced tea from your catering company for a second tasting so people can experience diverse ways to enjoy tea. For some extra connection, ask everyone to bring their favorite mug from home, and have each person say a few words about why they love it. This way, you can all drink tea and learn something about one another.

Order Tea and Tasty Food From Apple Spice Catering

If you love these ideas and need help providing tea, cookies and food, choose a catering company that will help make your event a success. Apple Spice Catering has served businesses since 1988 and provides delicious food and reliable service.

Contact Apple Spice and learn how we can help you celebrate National Tea Day at work.

Dec 15

Why Ham for Christmas?

By Alexa Biscotto Catering, Holiday

Ham is a crowd-pleasing choice for any office or corporate holiday gathering. Its rich, comforting flavor brings a warm, celebratory feeling to the table. This year, partner with a reliable catering company to serve your team a delicious holiday meal for a memorable event with less planning-related stress.

What Is Christmas Ham?

A traditional Virginia baked ham is a holiday showstopper known for its smoky sweetness. A glaze made with mouthwatering ingredients like brown sugar, honey and spices creates a glossy, caramelized finish that locks in moisture, adds depth and creates an irresistible centerpiece for your seasonal gathering.

Why Do We Eat Ham for Christmas?

Ham has earned its place as a beloved Christmas tradition, offering a hearty, satisfying meal. It is often more affordable than other holiday mains like turkey or beef and easier to prepare for a crowd.

Ham’s enduring popularity has centuries of tradition behind it, passed down through generations as a symbol of warmth and togetherness. Whether served at a family dinner or your next company holiday party, Christmas ham brings comfort and cheer to the table.

The History of the Christmas Ham Tradition

Celebrating Christmas with a delicious ham has a long history in Northern Europe and the Anglosphere.

Pagan Origins

Archaeological evidence reveals that people in the pagan and pre-Christian Neolithic period celebrated the winter solstice by eating pork during midwinter feasts. In the Viking Age, Norse pagans sacrificed and feasted on wild boar during the Yule festival, honoring Freyr, the god of good harvests and fertility.

Pigs were a reliable and practical food source during these periods. Curing pork helped families stock a meat supply to last through the long winter months, and the cured ham was often a staple at midwinter festivals.

Christian Traditions

Pagan feasts gradually evolved into Christian traditions as the religion spread. Early Christians borrowed many practices from pagan winter festivals, incorporating them into their burgeoning faith.

In medieval times, a boar’s head was often the centerpiece of Christmas feasts because it symbolized Christ’s triumph over sin and death. Wild boar eventually became scarce, so people started to consume more alternative pork products such as ham.

American Tradition

Eating ham for Christmas became an American tradition when English settlers arrived and continued their practices. It became especially popular in the South due to the region’s abundance of pig farms. This tradition remains popular throughout the U.S. today.

Delicious Side Dishes to Complement a Christmas Ham

When you choose a ham as the centerpiece of your next gathering, consider pairing it with the following side dishes to create a cozy holiday feast.

Au gratin potatoes: Au gratin potatoes are a rich, creamy complement to a savory baked ham. Their decadent, cheesy flavor is an irresistible contrast to the ham, and their heartiness makes a meal feel festive and substantial.
Mashed potatoes: Buttery mashed potatoes are a quintessential holiday side dish.
Parsley and baby carrots: Baby carrots offer a touch of sweetness and brighten up your plate, and parsley adds a mild herbaceous flavor that complements the richness of the main course.
Steamed vegetables: Steamed vegetables are another excellent option, offering a healthy, tender-crisp side packed with nutrients.
Crisp garden salad: A crisp garden salad offers a light, fresh balance to a Christmas meal. This refreshing side dish or first course prevents the meal from feeling too heavy, letting each guest enjoy the full spread.
Fresh-baked rolls and cinnamon butter: Soft, warm, freshly baked rolls provide a comforting element to your meal. Cinnamon butter creates a subtle aroma and sweetness that adds another layer of festive flavor to your gathering.

Bring Christmas cheer to the office with Apple Spice Catering.

The Best Beverage Pairings for a Christmas Ham

The following drinks are superb pairings with a Christmas ham dinner.

Sparkling cider: Light, fruity notes provide a refreshing contrast to a savory ham.
A crisp Riesling: Treat your guests to a sweet wine with notes of lime, apple and minerality.
A light-bodied Pinot Noir: Lighter-bodied red wines have a delicate structure, subtle fruitiness, smoky notes and earthy undertones.
An amber ale: Amber ales typically have a balanced profile with toasted malt or caramel flavors. They offer a moderate hop bitterness with fruity esters and a malty sweetness.
A seasonal lager: Seasonal lagers brewed for winter often have a slightly richer malt character than standard lagers. You can expect a hint of subtle sweetness or spice with a crisp, refreshing finish.

Advantages of Catering Your Next Office Holiday Gathering

Catering your next holiday gathering is a fantastic way to treat your office to a delicious ham feast with benefits like these.

Easier Planning

A professional caterer can check off many to-do list items for you. You can decide which main dish and side dishes your party would prefer and let the catering company handle the rest, or trust an experienced caterer to create a unique menu for you.

Money and Time Savings

Organizing a company potluck can quickly become a logistical juggling act. Even if you repeatedly send reminders, people may forget to sign up, or you may discover multiple team members plan to bring the same seasonal favorite.

Hiring a professional caterer streamlines the experience and removes these burdens. It’s also a cost-effective solution, as catering services typically come prepared to serve a well-rounded, crowd-pleasing menu and bring everything from cutlery to chafing dishes. Relax and let the pros take care of the details.

Efficiency

Catering streamlines your corporate event. Experienced caterers know how to create an excellent dining experience, taking preorders and serving hot plated meals to each guest. Professional caterers can also accommodate dietary needs, adapting side dishes and offering alternatives to serve every guest a seamless, satisfying meal.

Bring Christmas Cheer to the Office With Apple Spice Catering

A Christmas ham and mouthwatering side dishes set the table for a delicious, memorable holiday gathering. Apple Spice Catering delivers hot boxed catering to your location or provides an exceptional, restaurant-like dining experience in your event space. We can create a unique, customized menu tailored to your employees’ preferences and dietary restrictions. Our servers always arrive on time, giving you peace of mind so you can enjoy your event more.

Many of our locations feature a special holiday menu with Virginia baked ham, au gratin potatoes, a crisp garden salad, baby carrots with parsley, freshly baked rolls and cinnamon butter. With over 30 years of experience in catering, our team promises to serve delicious meals for any occasion. Find a location near you to place an order for your next corporate holiday gathering.

Sep 22

How to Celebrate National Coffee Day at Work

By Alexa Biscotto Catering, Tips

The United States consumes the most coffee of all countries, so it’s fitting we’ve designated a day to celebrate. Coffee has a rich history of bringing continents and cultures together and continues to be involved in social connections worldwide. Going for a coffee with someone usually implies chatting with them, whether for a friendly catch-up, date or business meeting.

When Is National Coffee Day This Year?

National Coffee Day is celebrated on September 29 every year, so mark it on your calendars and remember to have a mindful moment while getting your caffeine fix that day.

National Coffee Day History

If you’d like an interesting story to share amongst your National Coffee Day facts, there’s some speculation about coffee’s history, including an old Ethiopian legend. In this story, goats ate coffee berries and revealed the secrets of their energizing powers to their goatherd, Kaldi, who brought the knowledge to a monastery, thus initiating the journey of this plant across the globe.

National Coffee Day’s first celebration was in the United States in 2005, but it became popular in 2009 after the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans began the NOLA Coffee Festival on September 29. In the years since, the day has grown in popularity and become a widely loved opportunity to learn about and drink coffee.

How to Celebrate National Coffee Day at Work

Coffee is a great connector, and this special day is the perfect reason to gather employees or co-workers for fun activities. Here are some National Coffee Day ideas for your office.

1. Organize a Casual Catered Lunch

Find a catering company near you to bring coffee, cookies and lunch to the office so everyone can spend time together drinking coffee, eating and chatting. Apple Spice can deliver boxed lunches to your office, so all you have to do is order, invite everyone, sit back and enjoy.

2. Introduce Coffee-Themed Ice Breakers After Lunch

After eating, pour a second round of coffee and pair staff members together to get to know one another better. Have a list of questions written on a whiteboard or cue cards. Here are some examples of questions to get people talking about their relationship to coffee:

What’s your go-to coffee order?
What’s the most unique coffee drink you’ve tried?
Which day of the week do you feel you need the most coffee to get through?

You can personalize your questions, pair people from different departments or do whatever will best help bring people together in the spirit of coffee.

Order Coffee and Delicious Food From Apple Spice

Apple Spice has offered lunch box delivery and other catering services since 1988. We specialize in business and corporate lunches and have the experience and skills to make your event a success.

Aug 01

Alumni Event Ideas and Tips

By Alexa Biscotto Catering, Events

From themed reunions to career networking for recent graduates, there are all kinds of good alumni event ideas that can help bring everyone together. These can serve as a way to engage alumni and encourage continued connection, support and community.

Established professionals can also engage in new networking opportunities or even serve as mentors to current students. They can share their achievements and lessons learned in their careers and provide guidance for students who aren’t sure of their next step.

You can also host alumni meetups to raise funds for your college or university, making them beneficial for everyone involved. No matter what your needs and goals may be, there are several different ways to host an alumni event and ensure it’s a success.

Keys to a Successful Alumni Event

A lot of planning and attention to detail goes into planning a successful alumni event. From choosing the right venue type to meeting attendees’ needs, there are several aspects to consider when hosting.

Here are four key steps to help you get started:

1. Create an Overall Objective and Plan

Before getting too involved in the details, make sure you have an overall objective and plan for your alumni event. Determine what kind of gathering this will be — maybe your goal is educational, networking-focused or fundraising. Consider the needs and preferences of your institution as well as the alumni who will attend. Having a clear purpose will ensure you effectively reach alumni and get them involved and interested in the event.

2. Plan the Details

After you’ve established your objective, it’s time to plan all the details. You can choose to host your alumni event at the institution or at another venue nearby. Determine the timeline and what you’ll include, including a list of any speakers or presentations.

Have an organizational committee or group of committed volunteers that you can designate roles and tasks to. For example, you’ll need someone to promote the event and someone else to handle all of the catering. Have regular check-ins with all volunteers to track progress and anticipate possible obstacles.

Create a budget to determine how much to spend on speakers, food, decorations, entertainment and marketing materials.

3. Market Your Event

Once you have everything planned, it’s time to promote the event and ensure it reaches alumni. There are several ways you can do this, ranging from traditional advertising like letters or brochures in the mail to organizing events on social media sites like Facebook, where guests can view all the event details and RSVP. You can also post it on your institution’s website and keep attendees updated with emails or social media posts.

Keep an updated list of expected attendees, including any guests they intend to bring, to have an accurate count for catering and seating.

4. Host the Alumni Event and Follow Up

Working with an event planner and organizing committee will ensure the event goes smoothly from start to finish. Have a timeline and plan for how you want the day to go, as well as designated individuals to handle everything from check-in to tear down.

When the event is over, follow up with the attendees and determine what they thought went well and what could be improved. Use this feedback to plan an even better event in the future.

College Alumni Event Ideas

Not sure what type of alumni gathering you should host? Here are a few alumni networking event ideas to help get you started:

Career networking: A career networking event is especially beneficial for those starting their professional lives or interested in a career switch. Alumni will have the opportunity to connect with others in their current or chosen field and learn more about job opportunities or industry trends that could impact their careers.
Themed event: From sports-related to playful beach or decades-themed, there are all kinds of possibilities for creating an event that engages attendees. Everything from the invitations to décor to the dress code can center around your chosen theme to really draw alumni in.
Mentorship-focused: Current students, as well as recent graduates, will find a mentorship-focused event appealing. You could have break-out groups for different industries so individuals have a chance to connect with professionals, be mentored and schedule check-ins or follow-ups.
Fundraising: If you’re looking for a way to bring alumni together and contribute toward something meaningful, a fundraiser is the perfect solution. Whether you host a walk or bake sale, fundraising events can be a great way to connect former and current students.

Why You Should Cater Your Alumni Event

the right food can help set the mood for an alumni event

No matter what kind of alumni event you’ll be hosting, providing food is one of the best ways to garner interest in your event and keep everyone full and satisfied, especially if attendees have to travel or the event will last several hours. The right food can help set the mood and create a welcoming environment where alumni can connect and network.

Instead of having to handle meal planning, preparation, cooking and serving yourself, turn to catering experts to make mealtime quick and simple. They’ll create a menu that fits your needs and budget and handle all of the prep work for you, taking one thing off your to-do list. Trusting the event’s food to a professional also makes it easier to accommodate a wider range of dietary needs and preferences.

Choose Apple Spice Catering

With Apple Spice Catering, you can make sure your next alumni event is a success. We’ve specialized in delicious meals made from premium ingredients for more than 30 years. When you trust the experts, you’ll have access to quality customer service to ensure all of your meals are ordered, delivered and delicious.

Choose from:

Box lunch: Our boxed lunches will provide alumni with an individual meal designated just for them. Our all-in-one lunches offer a delicious, nourishing meal consisting of sandwiches, wraps, salads and treats. The entire order is conveniently packaged inside each box and labeled so everyone knows exactly which box is theirs.
Hot and cold catering: Whether you need a meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner, we can provide you with a catering menu that has something for everyone. With options ranging from sandwich platters to BBQ dishes, you’ll be able to create a restaurant-like experience at your alumni event.

No matter the size or needs of your alumni event, have peace of mind knowing your meals will be delivered right and on time. Our corporate catering experts will do what it takes to ensure everyone enjoys a tasty, satisfying meal. View our locations and menus and reach out today to get started.

choose Apple Spice Catering

Aug 03

The Ultimate Guide to Organizing a Company Potluck

By Alexa Biscotto Box Lunch Delivery, Catering

Employee engagement was at 32% at the start of 2022, which is lower than in previous years. As many business owners understand the benefits of having engaged, happy employees, increasing employee engagement is a significant consideration. Organizing an event where your team gets to relax, bond and have some fun is an excellent way to increase engagement and satisfaction, and a potluck could be the perfect solution.

If you know how to organize a potluck at work, you can bring people together in an informal environment so they can relax and get to know each other. If you’ve never organized one, some potluck organizing tips are all you need to get started.

What Is a Potluck?

A potluck is a gathering where everyone brings a prepared dish to be shared among the group. The variety of food that gets brought depends on the guidelines you provide. You can leave it entirely up to the attendees — which is super exciting but could result in 12 macaroni and cheese dishes and no salad — or you can assign people dishes to bring.

Potlucks can also have a theme to add more fun and excitement. Regardless of how you organize it, the main goal should be to create an event that engages employees and encourages them to connect.

The Benefits of a Potluck

Hosting a potluck has more significant benefits than enjoying good food. It brings co-workers together, and your business can enjoy the following advantages:

Increasing employee engagement: Positive events at work boost workplace engagement. A potluck is also a nice break from a typical workday, allowing your team to get to know each other better.
Encouraging creativity: A good potluck involves each attendee contributing something different to create a balanced meal. When everyone has to bring something different, people must get creative. There’s an opportunity to share some family favorites and showcase kitchen skills.
Strengthening relationships: Your team gets to talk to one another and build a sense of camaraderie, which can only benefit their work performance.

How to Organize an Office Potluck

When you leave too much to chance, your potluck could throw you some curveballs. However, with some planning, everything should run smoothly. The following potluck checklist will help you plan an event everyone will remember:

1. Choose a Theme

Although a theme isn’t mandatory for a successful potluck, it does add an element of excitement. It could give people an opportunity to dress up. A theme can also help people come up with creative dishes. Reach out to your team for suggestions on dishes to include. Some fun themes to consider include the following:

Fall potluck
Celebrate your family heritage
Favorite comfort food
Around the world
Country fair

While the suggestions above could work, you can also use them for inspiration and develop a unique theme suited to your business.

2. Assign Dishes

Your potluck should be a full meal, so you’ll need people to provide finger food, appetizers, main courses, desserts and salads. Send an email asking people what they would prefer to bring, so they can cook something they know will be a hit. However, ensure that everyone brings something different. Assign meals to those who don’t respond, and be prepared to ask some to change their dish.

3. Ask for Recipes

One of the best things about a potluck is recipe sharing. Ask your team to write down recipes and instructions for their dishes. A simple list of instructions can be a great conversation starter, and all the attendees have the opportunity to learn something new.

4. Remember the Utensils

It’s best to provide the basics like plates, utensils, glasses, napkins and table decor. If you take on the responsibility, you have peace of mind that you’ll have everything you need instead of relying on co-workers who may have to cancel last minute.

5. Clear the Fridge

If you’re hosting your potluck on a workday, people will bring their dishes when they come to work in the morning. Clear out the office fridge so they can store the food until the event begins.

6. Arrange Your Space

If you choose a theme, consider decorating your space to boost the atmosphere. Double-check you have plenty of table and counter space and that you organize your table. Consider grouping dishes by category so everyone knows where to find their favorite. It might also be worth keeping desserts aside so people aren’t tempted to skip a course and dig into the sweets.

7. Label the Dishes

Have your attendees label their dishes so everyone can find options they can enjoy, like vegan or gluten-free alternatives.

8. Allow for On-Site Preparation

Some attendees will have to finish their dishes in the office kitchen before serving. Ensure everyone has access to the oven, microwave and stovetop by noting who needs them and for how long. They can take turns instead of trying to work around one another.

9. Be a Gracious Host

Ensure you’re available to answer questions, point people in the right direction and handle any last-minute emergencies. As you’ve organized an office function, ensure people mingle and get to know each other. Consider giving people name tags if it’s a large group and seat them next to people from different departments. Get some conversation starters going while everyone enjoys their meal.

Office Potluck Ideas

Office potlucks should be fun, and no one should be nervous about what food to bring. There are almost limitless options for what people can bring, but keep the following ideas in mind for those looking for workplace potluck ideas:

No cooking options: Some people dislike cooking, so providing some no-cooking choices is excellent for removing the pressure. Options could include chips or vegetables with dip, sandwich or cheese platters, or bowls of fruit.
Cold food options: Giving people options they can prepare at home is convenient for your guests and limits office cleaning. Some cold food ideas include pasta salad, coleslaw, cakes and antipasto platters.
Hot food options: A good potluck has some hot options for people to try. Consider ideas that are easy to prepare in large portions, such as macaroni cheese, nachos, sliders, curry and roasted meats.
Dessert options: Your desserts should be easy to prepare in large portions, like cakes, cupcakes and trifles.

Potluck Etiquette

Your potluck should boost team spirit, which is easy when everyone is considerate during the event. If you or anyone on your team are attending your first potluck, the following tips will help keep everyone happy:

Bring something: Everyone on the guest list should bring something. If you genuinely forget your dish, try to grab something before you attend.
Try everything: Sample everyone’s hard work unless you have a genuine reason that prevents you from trying a dish.
Give everyone options: Ensure you have options that cater to everyone’s dietary requirements in each course, including dessert.
Make up a plate: If someone can’t attend due to a work commitment, make up a plate for them and keep it aside for later.
Clean up: Everyone who enjoys the potluck should help with the cleanup. The more people who help, the quicker the process.

Offer Office Catering at Your Next Potluck With Apple Spice Catering

A potluck is an excellent way to unite your team and enjoy fantastic food. If you’re snowed under with work tasks or need to cater to large groups, Apple Spice Catering can help you. We will go the extra mile to ensure your team has fresh, delicious meals for every occasion, from your office potluck to a special breakfast and everything in between. We also offer delightful box lunches in individual portions for that big meeting or impromptu corporate lunch in your area.

Place an online order today or contact us for more information. Let Apple Spice catering make your next corporate function memorable.

Sep 13

How to Measure and Increase Employee Engagement

By ryanc Catering

Engaged employees are more productive and excited about their work. However, getting your employees to feel engaged with your company is no small feat. Encouraging employee involvement requires excellent leadership communication, recognizing their hard work and providing the right resources to ensure all employees feel adequately supported in their positions.

In today’s workplace, employee engagement is vital for keeping staff connected and inspired in their workplaces. To ensure your engagement strategy is successful, you must ground your methods in employee feedback and data, making tracking and measuring employee involvement vital to your business’s success.

Why Measure Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is the mental and emotional connection an employee feels towards their workplace. Currently, 36% of employees in the United States feel engaged at work. As employee quitting rates continue to rise, many organizations are placing a greater emphasis on employee engagement as it encourages employees to work harder and stay at a company longer.

However, you can’t foster employee engagement unless you understand what engages or disengages your employees in the first place. Some reasons why you should measure employee engagement include:

Identify strengths and problem areas: Making an effort to regularly measure participation allows you to overcome any obstacles before they become problems. You can also use engagement data to view what is going well in your company or determine which departments are doing better than others.
Build trust: Asking for feedback shows you care about your employees’ opinions and working experience. Use your feedback sessions to build trust with your employees so they are more likely to provide honest feedback about their experiences.
Help everyone understand engagement: After obtaining your engagement data, share your results with all employees. Making this data accessible for everyone enables all employees to understand what is happening in your company and contribute solutions.
Understand trends: Measuring employee engagement allows you to understand what is happening in your organization and compare your results to other industry benchmarks. This data also shows how your organization is or isn’t progressing.

How to Measure Employee Engagement

If you’re a strategic leader of your organization, you’ll want to learn what types of employee engagement are working and address areas that could use improvement. Some actions you may take to measure engagement are:

Invest in individual contributors: Employees who do not wish to work in a leadership position should still have room for growth in your organization. One way to measure employee engagement is to create a formal ongoing learning policy so employees can continue to improve their skills.
Send pulse surveys: Sending surveys throughout the year allows you to keep a pulse on engagement. Keeping these polls short and sweet will enable you to see any issues which require immediate attention and which areas are working well within your organization.
Conduct stay interviews: Instead of waiting until the exit interview to gain feedback, plan time with each employee to understand what they are currently enjoying and if they have any suggestions for improvement. You can conduct these interviews as needed or annually to provide a qualitative measurement of employee engagement.
Create a focus group: If you would like to learn how to measure employee engagement without surveys, focus groups are an excellent alternative. Choose employees from specific departments or combine staff from across the company to create a broader outlook.
Look at productivity rate: Divide your revenue for a year or quarter by your number of employees. Compare your results across multiple departments and look for trends or patterns.

Ways to Increase Employee Engagement

While increasing employee engagement is not a complex process, it must be a priority for your company to be effective. Some methods you can utilize to increase engagement include:

Scheduling regular meetings: Learning how to improve employee engagement begins with asking your employees how they feel in their current roles and what steps you can take to improve their positions. Regular meetings allow you to correct issues promptly and find areas for improvement.
Putting all employees in the proper role: Having your employees in positions best suited for their skills is the best way to increase engagement. To ensure your employees are in the correct position, check that your talent acquisition and retention strategies align with company goals.
Providing the right tools for success: If your employees often experience barriers to completing tasks, it can decrease engagement. For example, if your employees must memorize four or five different passwords to access company resources, they may benefit from a more straightforward login procedure.
Offering training opportunities: Setting your team up for success with the proper training and development can build a culture of trust and accountability while improving engagement.
Discussing engagement: The key to being a successful manager is to be transparent in your approach to improving engagement with your team. Hold meetings and make an effort to engage all employees in the discussion and possible solutions.
Giving rewards and recognition: Making awards and recognition well-known throughout an organization can help increase engagement. Sending a clear message of appreciation shows workers how they fit into the company mission and what kind of behavior warrants an award.

Actions to Take

After identifying areas of your organization you can improve to boost employee engagement, it’s best to take action as soon as possible. Some steps you may take to increase employee engagement and improve your overall workplace culture include:

Strong communication: Communicating your company goals and offering chances to communicate with employees through meetings, emails or video conferences will enable employees to ask questions, raise concerns and feel that you value their opinions.
Employee bonding: Creating opportunities for employees to bond, identifying points of conflict and organizing chances to connect outside work enables you to build a positive work environment and improve employee engagement.
Effective training and onboarding: An effective onboarding program prevents confusion and allows all new employees to understand what you expect from them and fully engage with their workplace.
Craft a handbook for all leaders: A measuring and increasing employee engagement guide allows all leaders in your organization to learn how they can increase engagement and improve company operations.
Stress management: Disengagement can result from stress making it essential to encourage stress management, such as encouraging breaks and setting realistic deadlines.
Employee appreciation: Look for opportunities to praise your workers or ask them how they would like to receive recognition for their hard work.

Order corporate catering to treat your team.

Get Started by Providing a Catered Meal for Your Team

You can retain employees longer and attract new talent by prioritizing employee engagement. To help increase engagement and recognize your employees for all they do for your company, order corporate catering from Apple Spice.

With quality customer service and delicious meal options, Apple Spice box lunches can help your employees feel appreciated and engaged with your company. Order corporate catering for your workplace today!

Jul 08

Catering being served in Grand Rapids, MI

Top Catering Companies in Grand Rapids, MI

By Alexa Biscotto Catering

Grand Rapids is one of Michigan’s most dynamic cities. Rich in history yet brimming with modern opportunities for residents and businesses, Grand Rapids is the perfect place to host any corporate event, wedding, baby shower or another special occasion.

When you’re looking for a top catering company in Grand Rapids, MI, use this page as a handy guide.

What to Look for in Grand Rapids, MI, Catering Companies

How can you quickly select the best catering company for your needs? Insist on the following traits:

Freshness: Flavorful, fresh ingredients always make the best starting point for any catered boxed lunch or sit-down meal.
Dependable Arrival: You shouldn’t have to wait for your caterer to arrive. Make sure your catering company values your time!
Reputation: A spotless reputation for being a best-of-best caterer ensures you’re getting value.

Best Caterers for Weddings in Grand Rapids

When it comes to scenery, location and venues, Grand Rapids remains a terrific place to host any wedding. For your wedding caterer, consider these regional favorites:

Kangaroo Kitchen: Looking for something different and unique for your wedding recipes? Kangaroo Kitchen features creative fare with incredible flair.
Maddalena’s Catering Company: If a sophisticated atmosphere is what you want on your big day, trust Maddalena’s Catering Company. Upscale dishes never looked or tasted so amazing.

Grand Rapids, MI, Best Caterers for Bridal Showers, Baby Showers and Similar Events

Life is filled with wonderful moments to gather with friends, family and all your loved ones. Whether you’re planning a baby shower, bridal shower or some other big experience, the following Grand Rapids caterers will help make the day a little brighter.

Gettin’ Fresh: Who says you can’t have a food truck cater your baby shower? With Gettin’ Fresh, you can! Enjoy sumptuous foods lovingly prepared and brought to your venue.
Carole’s Catering Company: Specializing in buffet-style meals, Carole’s Catering Company focuses on American, Polish and Mexican items.

Top Corporate Caterer in Grand Rapids, MI

Morning meetings. Afternoon get-togethers. Evening conferences, conventions and gatherings. When you have a corporate event on the calendar, get everything you need from the best overall caterer in Grand Rapids — Apple Spice Catering. We use quality ingredients and exceptional recipes for our signature boxed lunches, plated meals and more.

Contact us to order online from Apple Spice Grand Rapids for your upcoming in-person experience. We deliver great food—right down to our warm, homemade cookies!

Jul 08

Boxed lunch catering being served in Ann Arbor, MI

Top Catering Companies in Ann Arbor, MI

By Alexa Biscotto Catering

With its walkable neighborhoods and scenic views, Ann Arbor, MI, is an urban hotspot for living, working and playing. Is it any wonder that so many people and businesses host events from corporate meetings to weddings in Ann Arbor?

Of course, when you’re planning any type of get-together, you want to know the top catering companies. To find Ann Arbor’s favorite caterers, read on!

How to Choose a Catering Company in Ann Arbor, MI

If you’re looking for a top wedding or baby shower catering company in Ann Arbor, you should consider several factors. Generally speaking, the best caterers for any kind of gathering should promise:

Punctuality: On-time food is always in style!
Freshness: Flavor matters so you should insist that your caterer start with wholesome ingredients.
Dependability: Reputation says so much about a caterer — look for a company noted for its excellence.

Best Caterers for Weddings in Ann Arbor

While it might seem overwhelming to plan a wedding in Ann Arbor, you can make life a little easier when you check out these top wedding caterers:

Zingerman’s Catering: Need an all-in-one location for your wedding? Zingerman’s downtown is a must-see. You’ll get a great ambiance and terrific food for your big day.
Food Art Catered Affairs: Presentation can change the way food appears and tastes. If creative cuisine excites you, give Food Art Catered Affairs a chance to impress.

Best Ann Arbor, MI, Caterers for Bridal Showers, Baby Showers and Other Celebrations

You have so many important moments to share with friends and family — bridal showers, baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries and more.

When searching for the perfect special event caterer to help you celebrate in Ann Arbor, try these catering companies:

Vinology: When you have a guest list of all adults, consider Vinology. Known for being a go-to wine bar, it also serves as the ideal landing place for showers, birthdays and other memorable occasions.
Katherine’s: Feel inspired with every bite when you turn to Katherine’s as your caterer. Loads of options and a budget-friendly attitude make this top caterer a good pick.

The Best Caterer Overall — Apple Spice Catering

If you’re looking for the top caterer in Ann Arbor, Apple Spice Catering gets the nod again and again. Our signature boxed lunches always please everyone on your guest list. Plus, we offer more opportunities to serve up deliciousness with our buffet-style and plated meals.

Talk to the team at Apple Spice Livonia – Ann Arbor, MI, today about your upcoming corporate catering needs.