Corporate catering tiers (2026 India)
| Tier | Menu | Recipe cost/pax | Quoted price/pax | Food cost % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic veg | 8 items + rice + roti + 1 sweet | ₹95-130 | ₹320-450 | 28-32% |
| Standard mixed | 10 items + 1 starter + 2 sweets | ₹140-190 | ₹450-650 | 30-34% |
| Premium | 12 items + live counter + welcome drink | ₹210-280 | ₹650-950 | 32-36% |
| Executive | Plated 3-course + dessert station | ₹320-450 | ₹950-1,400 | 34-38% |
The per-plate formula
The 1.12 buffer covers mandi drift over a 3-6 week corporate booking window — shorter than wedding catering because corporates book closer to date. Variable labour includes cooks, servers, and dishwashing for the event duration only.
Worked example: 150-pax corporate lunch
Menu: standard mixed (10 items + starter + 2 sweets). Recipe cost per pax = ₹165. Apply 1.12 buffer = ₹185. Variable labour per pax = ₹28 (4 cooks + 6 servers for 3 hours). Packaging (disposables, chafing fuel) = ₹12. Transport (van + fuel, 30 km round trip) = ₹8/pax. Total cost per pax = ₹233. Target food cost % = 32%. Per plate = ₹233 / 0.32 = ₹728/pax. Quoted at ₹750. 150 pax = ₹1.125L revenue, ~₹36,000 contribution after variable costs.
GST treatment
| Service type | GST rate | Who pays | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor catering (no premises) | 18% | Client | Most corporate park events |
| In-house at client cafeteria | 5% | Client | If caterer has premises licence |
| Hotel banquet (inclusive) | 5% on food | Hotel bills | Caterer sub-contracts to hotel |
| Service charge | Exempt from GST | Client | 8-12% transparent on invoice |
Contract clauses that protect margin
- Headcount confirmation: final count 48 hours before; +5% accommodated at same rate, -10% with no refund on committed prep.
- Commodity escalation: re-quote if any single ingredient moves >20% between booking and event date.
- Transport separately: quote transport per km, not absorbed into plate price. Clients respect transparency.
- Advance payment: 50% on booking, 50% on delivery. No exceptions for new corporate clients.
- Cancellation: 72-hour window; 30% cancellation fee after confirmation.
Annual contract vs one-off pricing
Annual cafeteria contracts trade margin for volume. Quote 2-4 points lower food cost % than one-off events, but lock ingredient escalation clauses and quarterly menu reviews. A 200-employee cafeteria at ₹120/pax × 22 working days = ₹5.28L/month — worth the tighter margin if you retain the contract 12+ months.
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