Green Catering

Create new profits by promoting your company as earth-friendly. 

As a 22-year veteran of the industry, I am constantly looking for new ways to offer our services to niche markets. After attending a presentation to our local catering and event professionals group given by Amy Spatrisano of Meeting Strategies Worldwide, I recognized the importance of offering “green” meetings and gatherings to our flourishing customer base.

Her presentation focused on recognizing the large population of planners looking for industry partners that are attracted to “green” companies. As I began to think of all the things we at DeAngelo’s Catering do internally to protect the environment, it was a natural marketing approach to advertise those facts to customers who care about these kinds of business practices.

Buzzwords I keep hearing include: earth, eco-  and environmentally friendly, sustainable and renewable resources, organic and non-genetically modified foods. Being a Pacific Northwest native all my life has certainly made me realize the beauty that our region possesses and the importance of protecting it through daily business practices.

The most fascinating result was a client who asked us to prepare meals for an outdoor music festival in our market with a budget of $25,000 for the four-day project. Even better: When the band re-visited the Northwest this year, the production team immediately called us, based on our services from the previous relationship we had formed just one year earlier! For this year’s event, we used all unbleached paper products as well as compostable plates and silverware made from sugarcane. By increasing sales through market awareness, companies are almost guaranteed increased revenues.

I believe a number of the companies reading this article today are also practicing many of the following procedures in their operations. Why not publicize what you’re doing and immediately begin adding profit to your bottom line!

Green Policy Statement
DeAngelo’s Catering cares for our environment and practices the following procedures daily at our production facility:

• We recycle film and ink cartridges, office paper, newspaper, magazines, cardboard, plastic, tin, aluminum, glass, cooking oil and animal fat renderings.

• We frequently recycle at events for our customers upon request.

• Our advertising and marketing materials are printed on recycled paper.

• Client proposals and communication practices include electronic transmittals via email to reduce paper use.

• We now use digital photography to document our services for marketing, to reduce harsh chemicals used in photo processing.

• China, flatware and glass rental is made available, as well as reusable centerpieces, event décor, display pieces and all natural environments.

• Display materials, props, floral and buffet décor is also reused whenever possible.

• Plastic service ware items are recycled or reused whenever possible.

• Biodegradable and compostable service ware items are made available for customers.

• We offer unbleached paper products for customers upon request.

• Our ware washing practices include environmentally friendly soaps and detergents.

• We encourage alternative transportation and carpooling for our staff for large events to reduce auto emissions.

DeAngelo’s Catering and Events takes pride in being an Earth Friendly Company.

by Steve DeAngelo
Catersource magazine
January 2005

Steve DeAngelo is the president and owner of DeAngelo’s Catering and Events, a 22-year-old catering and event planning company. To learn more about the service DeAngelo’s Catering offers, go to www.cateringbydeangelos.com.