Workplace catering is no longer an occasional perk. In today’s hybrid workplace, shared meals are becoming a weekly — sometimes daily — ritual. Whether it’s a client meeting, a quarterly all-hands, or an employee appreciation day, catering is how many companies bring people together.
But while the demand for catering has surged, the delivery experience hasn’t kept pace. A new survey from FULFLLD, conducted in July 2025 with 600 U.S. adults who have ordered catering for their workplace in the past year, reveals both the promise and the pitfalls of the corporate catering market.
The findings are clear: workplace catering is more frequent than ever, but 86% of decision-makers report frustrations with delivery. From cold food to sloppy presentation to missing items, the “last mile” of catering delivery is undermining experiences that companies view as cultural investments.
In this post, we’ll break down the most important takeaways — and what they mean for caterers, delivery providers, and the companies that rely on them.
Workplace Catering Is Now a Weekly Routine
One of the most striking findings from the survey is just how often companies are ordering catering.
- 42% of workplace decision-makers order weekly
- 34% order a few times a week-
- 24% place catering orders daily
That means nearly three-quarters of workplaces are ordering at least weekly, if not more often.
This shift reflects the new reality of hybrid work. With many companies concentrating in-office days, catering becomes a way to mark the occasion, drive attendance, and make collaboration days feel worth the commute.
As one respondent put it: “Office catering has moved from being a ‘perk’ to being part of our cultural DNA. It’s how we bring people together.”
For caterers and delivery providers, this frequency raises the stakes. A bad experience on Monday can sour an entire week. Reliability, variety, and presentation are now as critical as the food itself.
Why Companies Order: Culture, Clients, and Celebrations
If catering is so frequent, what’s driving it? According to the survey, the biggest reasons are tied directly to workplace culture and client relationships:
- Holiday or seasonal celebrations – 22%
- Large company events – 20%
- Client meetings – 18%
- Employee appreciation – 18%
- Training sessions – 14%
In other words, catering isn’t just about feeding people — it’s about signaling value, recognition, and professionalism.
One respondent shared: “We have quarterly all-hands with lunch for the whole team — it’s the only time everyone is in the office together.”
These moments carry high expectations. A late or sloppy delivery isn’t just inconvenient; it undermines the purpose of the event itself.
The Delivery Experience Gap: Where Catering Falls Short
Despite its importance, workplace catering often stumbles at the last mile. When asked about frustrations, respondents didn’t hold back:
- Cold food – 86%
- Messy packaging – 70%
- Late arrivals – 58%
- Missing items – 51%
- Unprofessional drivers – 51%
- Unbranded delivery – 30%
These are not small complaints. They represent a fundamental gap between what companies expect and what they receive.
As one respondent put it bluntly: “We have experienced slow deliveries and mistakes in our orders.”
Another noted: “Making sure the delivery makes it to the office in time for meetings, etc.”
And another shared: “Sometimes the order is not accurate and it cannot be fixed once it’s delivered.”
For FULFLLD CEO Levy Yakubov, this is the heart of the problem: “When a $1,000 catering order arrives cold or sloppy, it’s not just food quality that suffers — it’s the company’s perception of the caterer. These high-value orders deserve high-touch execution.”
Catering Isn’t Just Food — It’s Culture
Perhaps the most powerful insights came from open-text responses about how catering impacts the workplace. Respondents repeatedly linked meals to morale, belonging, and productivity.
Here’s what they said:
“It held body morale and fostered a sense of belonging.”
“Catered food impacts mood and productivity in a very positive way. The catering gives them something special to look forward to and it certainly improves morale. More work gets done in anticipation of a wonderful and free lunch!”
“It breaks the monotony of a constant go-go-go schedule all the time. It is nice to have a treat every once in a while.”
“When everyone is full they’re more productive.”
“It gives us a good experience and uplifts our moods.”
In other words: catering is not a line-item expense — it’s an investment in culture.
The Opportunity Ahead
The 2025 Workplace Catering Delivery Report makes one thing clear: demand is strong, but execution is inconsistent. Companies are ordering frequently and spending big, but the delivery experience too often falls short.
For providers, this presents both risk and reward. Those who continue to treat delivery as an afterthought will lose trust — and repeat business. But those who invest in branding, professionalism, and reliability have the opportunity to own a growing and highly visible part of workplace culture.
Get the Full Report
This post just scratches the surface. The full FULFLLD Workplace Catering Delivery Report dives deeper into:
- Ordering budgets and event-specific patterns
- Who really makes the catering decisions inside companies
- Detailed breakdowns of trust factors and premium expectations
Download the full report here
About FULFLLD
FULFLLD is the only dispatch and fleet management platform built for brand-led delivery. Whether you're offering catering, retail, or scheduled drop-offs, we give you the tools to manage drivers, optimize routes, and track performance in real time — all under your own brand.FULFLLD powers premium delivery experiences for modern catering and foodservice brands. Our tech-enabled ecosystem combines logistics, local fulfillment, and branded delivery service to ensure speed, quality, and customer delight — at scale. We make it simple to grow delivery operations without compromising what makes your brand stand out.