Drop-Off, Picnic, BBQ Track

A recent Catersource survey showed that drop-off catering us up more than 65% over last year. This economical-for-the-client type of catering can mean big business for caterers who know how to make the most of their current resources and push this profit center to the next level.  With more than 100 educational sessions, culinary demos, hands-on classes and learning experiences at the 2010 Catersource Conference to select from, you will learn the ins and outs of this dependable profit center. Here are some of the suggested sessions in this track:

SUNDAY
1:00pm
#002 60 Ways to Lower Food Cost For On- and Off- Premise Caterers
or
#003 Mastering Hot-Box Cooking

2:30pm
#011 New Revenue, New Products, New Markets: How to Add a Recession-Proof Party Food-to-Go Division to Your Catering Company

4:00pm
#018 Large Tailgate Events: How to Score Big in Catering to the Sports Event Market

MONDAY
7:30am
#102 Culinary Amusement: How to Make Food Fun and Profitable
or
#104 The Secrets Behind Successful Sales Team Management

Noon
Out of the Box Lunch and Contest
Show off your best boxed lunch style! Share your unique ideas and grab your chance to win cash and prizes as well as marketing and bragging rights. Or, just attend the lunch to pick up some fresh ideas and inspiration for your boxed lunch program.

4:30pm
#123 Self-Service Corporate and Social Catering in 2010

TUESDAY
7:30am
#204 We've Been in Your Kitchen…and We Can Help

9:00am
#209 The Operations Toolbox

Noon
Tradeshow
Our 1,000+ booth Tradeshow will feature vendors showcasing the latest trendsetting equipment, food and beverage, products and services on the market for catering today. Learn what’s new for catering and gain the upper hand in selling and creating outdoor events! You’ll find the best outdoor cooking equipment, specialty grills and smokers, innovations in transport equipment and vehicles, new disposable serving ware, fun and creative event-making products and equipment and you’ll get to sample some tasty food and beverages perfect for outdoor catering and BBQ’s.

WEDNESDAY
8:00am
#302 What Every Owner/Manager Must Know
or
#304 Picnic and Outdoor Party Trends

10:00am
Tradeshow: Chef Demo Arena
Take advantage of this intimate arena Tuesday and Wednesday on the Tradeshow Floor.  Watch these chefs prepare catering specific menu items, cutting edge concepts and give you hundreds of ideas using easy to find ingredients and labor saving preparation techniques. Sample some of the chef’s creations and take photos of their displays and presentations.

3:30pm
#307 The Business of BBQ and Picnics

4:45pm
#319 Greening Your Business: Sustainable Practices and Profits!

THURSDAY
For the first time ever, Thursday bonus sessions are ALL hands-on opportunities for you to actually practice what the speakers are teaching. Each of these classes will be presented in two part and will offer time for you to build and create everything from buffet stations to new menu presentations. Or, you will be guided through actual role-playing real-life business situations that will get you to problem solve and think fast on your feet.

Mike Roman's Sales Clinic
Hands-on Design
Team-Building Workshop
Food-Styling and Menu-Building

Click here for full sessions schedule including course descriptions and speaker information.

GET MORE:

CORE FastTrack
For a highly-customized track of education for start-up caterers, you may also want to consider the CORE FastTrack. This special track is designed to run concurrently with the full conference and contains education and topics created to get you up to speed FAST. CORE sessions run Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and also include access to full conference package events, the Tradeshow floor and several elective sessions from the full conference schedule. The CORE FastTrack is available for a special discounted registration rate, click here for more.

Themed Menu Contest
What makes an event stand out? The THEME does! And the way you propose it to your client via email can make or break the sale. Share your clever theme ideas for your chance to win cash and prizes as well as marketing and bragging rights.  Themed Menu contest entries will be posted on the Tradeshow Floor so you can get some fun ideas and inspiration for your next themed event!