Catering services cover the food and the people who serve it: the menu, cooking, plating or buffet service, waiters, crockery and clearing up. In South Africa a caterer might feed 40 mourners after a funeral, 120 guests at a wedding on a farm or 300 staff at a year-end function. Tell us the date, the number of guests, the kind of event, the venue and any dietary needs, and caterers who work in your area send you a quote directly.
Buffet, plated or food stations
The service style shapes the price more than the menu does:
- Buffet: the cheapest style and the quickest to serve. Plan one buffet line for every 50 guests so no queue runs longer than ten minutes.
- Plated: courses brought to the table. It looks formal but needs about one waiter for every 10 to 12 guests, plus a kitchen with space to plate.
- Food stations: a carvery, a pasta or curry station, a braai or a dessert table. Guests move around, which suits cocktail-style and standing events.
- Finger food and canapes: for launches and short functions, usually 8 to 12 pieces per person for a meal replacement.
How much food per head
Caterers work from rules of thumb, and it helps to know them when you compare quotes. For a main meal allow about 120 to 150 g of meat or fish, 150 g of starch and 150 to 200 g of vegetables or salad per person. For a braai or spit-braai, allow 300 to 400 g of meat per adult. For a cocktail function without a meal, allow 12 to 15 pieces per person over three hours. Add 5 to 10% when many men are attending or the event runs late. Catering for children is usually half-portions at a lower price. Pair your food order with table and chair hire so every guest has a seat at the table.
Dietary needs, halaal and religious requirements
Tell the caterer about dietary needs when you request a quote, not after the menu is set. Halaal and kosher events need a certified caterer or a certified kitchen, and cannot be handled by simply leaving pork off the menu. Ask for vegetarian and vegan options in every course, and for nut, gluten and dairy allergies to be labelled on the buffet. For funerals, many caterers have fixed packages with rice, stew, salads, bread and tea, served after the service in a hall, a tent or at the family home. Ask whether the caterer holds a valid certificate of acceptability from the municipality and can show it.
Staff, kitchen, equipment and what to check on the quote
Find out whether the price covers crockery, cutlery, glassware, linen and waiters, or only the food. Many caterers charge a separate hire fee, so compare that against event equipment hire. At an open site such as a field or a wine farm lawn, ask who brings the cooking equipment, gas, water and a tent for the kitchen, and what happens during load shedding. Confirm the number of staff, when they arrive, how long they stay and what the overtime rate is. Check the deposit, which is often 50% on booking, and the final guest-number deadline, usually seven days out. For a complete function, see event management.
What to include in your request
- Event type, date, start time and meal time
- Number of guests, children and dietary needs
- Service style: buffet, plated, stations or finger food
- Venue, and whether it has a kitchen, water and power
- Whether crockery, waiters and drinks are included
Catering Services for different events
- Weddings and traditional ceremonies: a plated or buffet dinner, canapes at the cocktail hour and a cake table for 80 to 200 guests
- Corporate functions and year-end parties: working lunches, launch canapes and year-end buffets with staff and a bar
- Conferences, launches and expos: tea and coffee on arrival, a plated or buffet lunch and snack breaks across the day
- Birthdays and private parties: a braai, finger food or a sit-down dinner at home, a hall or a restaurant
- Kids' parties and baby showers: party food, cupcakes and snack boxes for the children and a light meal for the adults
- School events and matric dances: prize-giving teas, matric dance dinners and fun day food stalls for a school hall
- Funerals, church and cultural gatherings: funeral, unveiling and church meals served in large pots to a big crowd
- Festivals, markets and sports days: food stalls, a main caterer and a hot meal for the crew at a market or concert
Frequently asked questions
How much do catering services cost in South Africa?
How far ahead should I book a caterer?
Can I use my own caterer at a venue?
Do I pay for guests who do not arrive?
Catering Services by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg