Smiling Moose Deli Catering a Recipe for Success

By: Smiling Moose Rocky Mountain Deli | 4 Shares 121 Reads

March 16, 2011 // Franchising.com // Boulder, CO - Smiling Moose Deli franchise experienced a record-setting effort in 2010 for catering sales, and credits a fully customizable 'made-to-order' menu, backed by tremendous customer service as the reason for their success. Having increased sales by 25% each year for the past seven years, the leggy Moose has found traction at all 14 locations by offering event organizers, quite simply, exactly what they want.

"First and foremost, our customers love our catering because they love our food. We don't pre-make sandwiches and wait for an order," says Smiling Moose Deli franchise president, Kevin Sloane "the only way to cater a fresh meal is to make it the same day."

Whether feeding three or 3,000, Sloane says Smiling Moose Deli catering team can work with a range of budgets because of the diverse menu offering. From a pan of family-style Lasagna to the award-winning sandwich line, the Moose can also accommodate vegetarians, as well as individuals with nut or gluten allergies with their sandwiches, wraps and salads. The Moose can even cater any of their four signature soups, providing the equipment to keep the offering hot. With options for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner, the expansive menu makes the Smiling Moose Deli a one-stop shop for event organizers looking to keep it fresh every time.

Pharmaceutical representative, Grant Robb has utilized at least 100 different caterers over the years, and orders meals for 12-25 people each week, he says the Smiling Moose Deli is his number one choice. "The Smiling Moose Deli has never been late, the order is always fresh, and the offices always enjoy it," says Robb, "I use them because their service is impeccable."

Shannon Schmit, Lead Project Coordinator at Medical Group Management Association agrees and regularly utilizes Smiling Moose Deli for small and large catering needs, as well. "Smiling Moose Deli could write the book on customer service!' Having called the centralized catering number and finding one of the team in the middle of a busy event, she wondered if the order would be right. "I called on a Friday afternoon to change a Monday event, not only did they get the order perfect, but they also called me to thank me for the business."

Sloane says they personally call every customer within 48 hours of the event, because they want to know about any problems; however, he concedes that most every time he talks to satisfied customers, many even place their next catering order.

Smiling Moose Deli catering customers include organizers of business meetings, educational classes, community events, fundraisers, sports teams and a host of private events. Taking the catering program one long-legged step further, the Moose offers large volume catering customers an unprecedented Large Catering Reward Program, which applies 5% of the sale to the organizers personal gift card as a show of appreciation for their business.

Offering great food and going out of their way to make an event memorable has simultaneously generated between 20%-25% more sales volume for each Smiling Moose Deli location. This aspect of the business offers a greater opportunity for success to each store owner, which just might have something to do with the five new stores opening this year in Boulder, CO; Midland, TX, Bozeman, MT; Evansville, IN; and Rapid City, SD.

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