For catering businesses

The ordering system for catering

Catering orders are not placed spontaneously — they are planned days or weeks in advance. GastroSystem gives you the tools for this: lead-time enforcement so no order arrives with less than 48 hours' notice, deposit collection at booking, and kitchen planning based on confirmed orders.

What catering businesses know well

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How GastroSystem helps catering businesses

Lead-time enforcement

Define the minimum lead time per category: standard catering = 48 hours, wedding buffet = 7 days, corporate event = 72 hours. Orders placed with less lead time are automatically rejected with a message about the earliest possible date. No more last-minute stress.

Deposit at booking

Set a deposit amount per order or per person — for example 30% of the order value. Customers pay this online when ordering. If they cancel after the deposit window, the deposit is retained. Your food cost risk is covered from the moment of booking.

Event menu configuration

Create event menu templates: buffet with stations (e.g. hot dishes, salad bar, desserts), set menu with multiple choices per course, or fixed package with a defined item list. Customers configure their order in the booking form — you receive the complete specification before production starts.

Kitchen planning from confirmed orders

The dashboard shows all confirmed catering orders for the next 7 days with quantities, delivery dates and menu configuration. You export the shopping list directly, plan kitchen capacity and allocate staff. No more spreadsheets, no more email chaos.

What catering businesses gain

A catering business with 10 events/month at an average order value of €800 has €8,000 monthly revenue at risk from cancellations. With a 30% deposit, €2,400 is secured at booking. Lead-time enforcement reduces last-minute orders by typically 90% — eliminating the main cause of quality problems and overtime costs.

Common questions for catering businesses

Can I enforce different lead times for different event types?

Yes. You set a minimum lead time per category: standard catering = 48 hours, wedding = 7 days. Customers cannot complete a booking with less than the required lead time — the system shows the earliest available date automatically.

How does the online deposit work?

You set the deposit amount (fixed or percentage). Customers pay via Stripe or Sumup directly when ordering. If they cancel after the deposit deadline, the amount is retained. You see all deposit payments in the dashboard.

Can customers configure their event menu themselves?

Yes. You create a booking form with selection options: buffet stations, course choices, portion sizes, dietary requirements. Customers fill in the form online — you receive the complete configuration before production.

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