Feasting was a key part of Ancient Greek culture, too. High-ranked members of society would gather at banquets called Symposia<\/span><\/a> to discuss philosophy and politics, drink wine, eat\u2026and judge the hosts on their hosting and catering abilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n From its not-so-humble beginnings in ancient civilizations \u2013 whether in the form of celebratory feasts or brag-worthy banquets \u2013 catering has been around for thousands of years. And it only grew in popularity from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Catering in the United States dates back to 18th-century Philadelphia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most well-documented catering event dates to 1778, an event for the recently resigned British General Sir William Howe. The farewell event was catered by Robert Bogle, a young Black man from Philadelphia who worked as a waiter and private event caterer in exchange for his freedom from slavery<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bogle is credited as \u201chaving virtually created the business of catering<\/span><\/a>,\u201d inspiring other Black entrepreneurs to continue growing and developing the catering and food service industry in Philly for the next 150 years<\/span><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Catering continued to rise in popularity across the country, with restaurants adopting catering services to complement their dine-in businesses in the mid-1800s<\/span><\/a>. The word \u201ccaterer\u201d also became commonly used language in the industry at this time, reflecting an upcoming boom in catering services throughout the 1930s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When World War II broke out, American households relied on ration stamps and coupons<\/span><\/a> to feed their families. While restaurants were subject to the same ration regulations and supply chain shortages, their catering options still offered respite for families trying to save ration points and enjoy a small slice of normalcy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As events, parties, and nights out became more mainstream in the 60s and 70s, so, too, did catering. Former President Richard Nixon, America\u2019s \u201cbest-entertained<\/span><\/a>\u201d President, hosted 40 state dinners from 1969 to 1974. Serving everything from Peking duck to lobster en Bellevue<\/span><\/a>, Nixon was no stranger to the catering industry\u2019s range. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, in 2023, catering is still a popular service in the restaurant and food service industry, with over 87,000<\/span><\/a> catering businesses across the United States alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But where does catering go from here? <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you ask the team at Craver\u2026 we think it\u2019s going to exciting new places. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For the past two years, the restaurant industry has been in \u201crecovery mode,\u201d recouping lost time and money from the effects of the pandemic. However, things seem to be changing for the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A recent forecast from Technavio<\/span><\/a> estimates the global catering services market to grow by USD 103.28 billion over the next 4 years\u2026 and we think that has a lot to do with return-to-work models and new catering technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More employees back in the office means more opportunities for in-office events, many of which tend to be catered. Nation\u2019s Restaurant News says that means it\u2019s \u201cprime time<\/span><\/a>\u201d for catering businesses to get back in the game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, with catering businesses increasing in popularity, it can be difficult to stand out in what is becoming a more saturated market. That\u2019s where catering technology comes into play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the past, catering technology was limited. It focused mostly on \u201csimple\u201d technology like booking software or payment systems\u2026 things that were helpful to run a smooth catering business, but not anything super groundbreaking or exciting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Until now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the past year or so, catering technology has made big waves in the restaurant industry. We\u2019re seeing new, exciting, technology-based solutions that the catering industry has been waiting for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the world\u2019s slow return to in-person life, the convenience of online ordering is here to stay. Businesses have been upgrading their catering technology, giving catering customers easy access to online ordering\u2026 like with Craver\u2019s catering feature<\/a>! Catering customers can order for pick-up or delivery through our zero-commission DoorDash Delivery integration, making the catering process faster and easier than before thanks to new technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unique catering experiences have always stood out\u2026 but now it\u2019s more important than ever<\/span><\/a>. Offering interactive, highly personalized options through catering technology is one way to make your business stand out while offering the tailored experience your catering customers see as non-negotiable. Allowing catering customers to place their own orders (through a Craver app<\/a>, for example) and customize meal ingredients with your catering technology helps you stand out from the crowd while making your catering customers feel seen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Speed and order accuracy have always been important for catering customers. Now, with catering technology powered by AI, it\u2019s easier than ever to maintain high operational standards. AI can help optimize different aspects of your catering business, from streamlining delivery routes and offering estimated delivery times to making sure you never run out of ingredients for a catering customer\u2019s order. Leveraging the power of AI catering technology means your catering business\u2019s operations run smoothly and errors are kept at bay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Catering is typically a very hands-on business. People need to be on the ball at all times, handling things from bookings and staffing needs to inventory management and equipment servicing. With new online catering technology and self-serve software, catering businesses can take this type of \u201cbusy work\u201d off their plates, freeing up time to focus on what automation could never replace: a solid catering customer experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you start leaning on catering technology to run parts of your business, one of the greatest opportunities for growth lies in the data. Once you and your catering customers start using your new catering technology, you can learn more about their behaviors and preferences than you could have before. Leveraging information about your catering customers helps your business make strategic, data-informed decisions that keep your customer a top priority at all times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Catering has been an integral part of the restaurant and food service industry for thousands of years, and it\u2019s showing no signs of slowing down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, with catering technology and AI-powered solutions on the rise, the catering industry is about to undergo some massive transformations\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Rise of Catering in the United States<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2023-12-01-at-4.19.46-PM.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nRecent Trends in Catering <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
New Catering Technology, New Catering Solutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Online Ordering Capabilities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Catering](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Catering-app.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nInteractivity and Personalization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Optimization With Artificial Intelligence (AI)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Automation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Data-Driven Insights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wrap Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n