Caterer

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Restaurant and Food Service Managers (0631) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Restaurant and Food Service Managers (A221) 
• 2011 NOC: Restaurant and food service managers (0631) 

Caterers may specialize in particular types of functions or food (for example, small business meetings or vegetarian food) or they may cater to a variety of functions and food preferences.

Depending on the size of the operation, caterers may perform all or only some of the following duties:

• discuss needs with customers and take detailed notes about food and service requirements
• hire chefs, cooks or serving staff as necessary
• develop menus that accommodate any special dietary requirements for the event
• prepare budgets
• purchase and maintain supplies
• prepare food or supervise food preparation
• maintain health and safety standards for food handling activities like food preparation, transportation and service
• maintain proper liquor controls
• follow up with clients after functions and deal with customer complaints.

They also may:

• co-ordinate arrangements such as room or hall rentals
• set up prior to functions and clean up afterward
• organize and develop work schedules
• supervise food and beverage service during the function.

Self-employed caterers may market their services and manage accounting and other business functions themselves, or hire sales and business managers.

Self-employed caterers often work long hours including evenings, weekends and holidays until their businesses are well established. They frequently lift and carry items weighing up to 20 kilograms.

Caterers need to possess:

• flexibility and creativity
• good communication, supervisory, negotiation and problem-solving skills
• excellent organizational skills
• an ability to work alone or as part of a team
• an ability to remain calm while working in close quarters with others during busy periods.

They should enjoy:

• co-ordinating information and the activities of others
• setting work schedules, monitoring staff and controlling inventory
• negotiating arrangements with suppliers and clients.

Caterers may be self-employed or employed by large catering firms, hotels or convention facilities. Advancement in this occupation generally takes the form of moving to more responsible positions or building a bigger business.

Caterers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 0631: Restaurant and food service managers. In Alberta, 91% of people employed in this classification work in the Accommodation and Food Services (PDF) industry.

The employment outlook (PDF) in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Accommodation and Food Service industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions)
• size of the occupation.

Over 15,800 Albertans are employed in the Restaurant and food service managers occupational group. This group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.3% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 363 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. Note: As caterers form only a part of this larger occupational group, only some of these newly created positions will be for caterers.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Canadian Association of Foodservice Professionals website: cafp.ca

emerit website: www.emerit.ca

National Restaurant Association [United States] website: www.restaurant.org

ProServe Liquor Staff Training website: www.proserve.aglc.ca

Restaurants Canada website: www.restaurantscanada.org

Tourism HR Canada website: tourismhr.ca

For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.