Much like many careers, catering is a demanding profession as it involves a combination of training, hard work and commitment towards honing the skills that are required to succeed. Catering requires a person to be one who is calm and composed during testing times, be a good motivator and lead the team towards success, as well as to be innovative and quick thinking to save the day. There are many other qualities that make a caterer to stand out from the rest of the herd; here are a few:

 So what makes one a good caterer?

• Cooking

As we all know, at the most basic level of catering is the cooking right? Yes, catering is all about cooking; though it is much more than that, as you will see further down. Regardless of the decorations and other arrangements in the venue, people will have to be impressed by the cook served before them, so as to make them keep coming back. An expert caterer with exceptional cooking skills and innovative catering ideas will add to the charm of the occasion as well as create a lasting impression on the guests and client alike. People are appreciating food better now than ever before. Caterers are asked to prepare new dishes in every wedding. To meet their demands, they update themselves with new recipes from the Internet.

Some caterers feel the Indian palette has changed over time. People have surpassed the traditional oily food to a more refined taste.

• Food safety

Food safety is most crucial for one to become a sought-after caterer. A caterer and his staff should be aware of and comply with the most-up-to-date food safety laws pertaining to their particular state. The caterer should need enough knowledge about safely preparing food, reheating and transporting large amounts of food without spoilage. It is mandatory that the caterer obtain licenses from the Food safety and standards authority of India (FSSAI) as well as adhere to each of their guidelines.

• Customer service

Since catering is a demanding field, it is necessary to stay connected with the clients; good communication and people skills are vital to build up a client repertoire leading to success of the caterer. Being courteous, tactful and diplomatic is a necessity while persuading the customers when you are guiding them towards making a good decision. Customer satisfaction is key as it is a known fact that word-of-mouth advertising is the best way to reach your business to larger people. 

• Flexibility and creativity

There are times when it requires caterers deal with various factors such as food allergies, religious dietary requirements or even personal preferences while preparing food for an occasion. Only an imaginative and adaptable person can triumph in these situations while still installing confidence in their clients during its process. 

• Financial planning

Fluctuation is an important part of the catering business. The caterer must be wise in balancing the busiest periods such as holidays and weekends, so as to earn healthy profits out of the business. This is very important as there will be periods when the business is weak; therefore making maximum profit during the peak period is a wise decision to make.

• Marketing

Marketing is an essential factor in catering business as work opportunities will come only when people know about your business. Therefore making your business noticeable by building a good network is a good quality every caterer should possess. For this you will have to work alongside florists, venue organizers, event planners and a variety of other services that are needed to make an event successful; these contacts can be used to build up your network in the future.

Therefore, these are the essential qualities a good caterer should possess to become successful in this demanding business.

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