What is corporate breakfast? What are good breakfast foods for meetings?

Corporate breakfasts have become a popular practice in the business world, offering a platform for networking, collaboration, and productive meetings.

In this blog post, we’re going to take a closer look at the concept of corporate breakfast, discuss the importance of serving food at corporate meetings, provide ideas for good breakfast foods, highlight foods to avoid, and offer tips for hosting a successful corporate breakfast of your own. Let’s tuck in! 

What is Corporate Breakfast?

Corporate breakfast (much as the name suggests) refers to the practice of serving breakfast during business meetings, seminars, conferences, or networking events.

It allows professionals to gather in a relaxed and informal setting, fostering connections, building relationships, and providing a productive start to the day.

Corporate breakfasts can range from simple coffee and pastries to full breakfast buffets or plated meals, depending on the nature and scale of the event.

Is it Important to Serve Food at Corporate Meetings? Why?

So, is it really that important to serve food at corporate meetings? Why bother? 

Well, let’s be honest; starting your day with a corporate meeting doesn’t exactly sound too appealing does it? However, with some tasty treats to tuck into, getting through the meeting and starting your day strong will be that much easier. 

In other words, if you want to keep your attendees focused and engaged, you’ve got to put some food in front of them! 

• Engagement and Focus: Providing breakfast helps participants start the day with nourishment, improving their energy levels, focus, and attention span during the meeting.

• Networking Opportunities: Sharing a meal encourages networking and relationship-building among attendees, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collaboration.

• Positive Atmosphere: Breakfast creates a welcoming and inclusive environment, setting a positive tone for the meeting and enhancing overall satisfaction and participation.

Good Breakfast Foods for Meetings

Now, what are some good foods to serve for morning meetings? Here are some ideas for inspiration: 

• Variety of Baked Goods: Offer a selection of pastries, such as croissants, muffins, Danish pastries, and bagels. These can be accompanied by spreads like butter, cream cheese, and jam.

• Fresh Fruits: Provide a colourful assortment of sliced fruits, including berries, melons, grapes, and citrus fruits. These offer a refreshing and healthy option.

• Yogurt and Granola: Set up a yogurt bar with different flavours and toppings like granola, nuts, honey, and dried fruits. It caters to those seeking a lighter and more nutritious option.

• Breakfast Sandwiches or Wraps: Prepare a selection of sandwiches or wraps with fillings like eggs, bacon, cheese, and vegetables. These provide a more substantial breakfast option.

• Coffee and Tea: Offer a variety of coffee options, such as regular, decaf, and espresso, along with a selection of teas and hot water for tea enthusiasts.

What Types of Foods Should You NOT Serve at Corporate Breakfast Meetings?

More importantly…what types of food should you not serve at a corporate breakfast? These are some nibbles to avoid: 

• Messy or Greasy Foods: Avoid foods that are difficult to eat neatly or produce excessive grease, as they can create a messy and distracting environment. While big juicy burgers might sound like a good idea, it’s going to get messy and it may make people feel self-conscious and perhaps won’t even bother. 

• Strong Odours: Steer clear of foods with strong odours, as they can be off-putting and may linger in the meeting space. Avoid the fishy fish! 

• Allergen-Rich Foods: Be mindful of common food allergies like nuts, gluten, and dairy. Provide options for those with dietary restrictions or allergies.

What Else is Required to Host a Successful Corporate Breakfast?

What other things does one need to consider when hosting a successful corporate breakfast? The following ideas will help you set up the perfect morning event: 

• Adequate Space and Seating: Ensure the meeting area is spacious enough to accommodate attendees comfortably, with ample seating arrangements.

• Efficient Service and Setup: Plan the setup and service logistics to ensure a smooth flow for participants. Consider self-serve stations. Or alternatively, catering services for corporate breakfasts often include staff to help with serving and clearing, allowing your participants to stay focused on the matter at hand. 

• Dietary Considerations: Take into account dietary restrictions and preferences, providing options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other specific requirements.

• Quality and Presentation: Opt for fresh, high-quality ingredients and aesthetically pleasing presentation to create an appealing and professional atmosphere.

• Timeliness: Start the breakfast promptly and manage the schedule effectively to respect attendees’ time constraints.

The trick is to not overdo it. Remember, you’re not planning a wedding so keep it simple. Many of your attendees will likely want to get through the meeting as quickly as possible so they can crack on with their daily duties. Keep it short and sweet, provide proper seating, a decent amount of healthy and nutritious grub, and go from there. 

Conclusion

Let’s have a quick recap: 

• Corporate breakfasts offer a valuable opportunity to combine business and networking in a relaxed and productive setting. 
• Serving food at corporate meetings is essential to enhance engagement, focus, and create a positive atmosphere. 
• Good breakfast foods for meetings include a variety of baked goods, fresh fruits, yogurt and granola, and breakfast sandwiches or wraps. 
• Avoid messy or strong-smelling foods that could be distracting. 
• To host a successful corporate breakfast, ensure adequate space, efficient service, dietary considerations, quality ingredients, appealing presentation, and respect for attendees’ time. 

By implementing these tips, you can make your corporate breakfasts all the more enjoyable, productive, and memorable for all participants. 

Again, there’s nothing worse than having to start your day with a corporate meeting so do everything you can to soften the blow. Serving some delicious food is certainly a great way to go about sweetening the deal.