As one of the world's largest industries, the world of food service offers a multitude of career and business opportunities. To succeed, however, you need to know how to market your services, source raw materials, plan meals for events and manage the practicalities of running your own business. We give you the guidance, the checklists and resources you need, and in addition we also throw in some great recipe ideas!
So, if you've ever dreamed of one day of owning and operating your own catering business, either full-time or part-time, with Courses Direct's Cooking & Catering course this goal can be easily achievable. Our course gives you the guidance you need - from setting up your business, and catering for various events, to marketing your company, and much more. You receive helpful comments and suggestions from an experienced tutor. Plus, as your course is delivered by distance education, there are no timetables to adhere to so your study can fit around your current lifestyle.
SETTING UP YOUR CATERING BUSINESS
From assessing your skills, strengths and identifying business opportunities, to selecting the right name to suit your new venture, this section of the course gets you ready to plan your own business and gives you the knowledge and confidence you need to start you on your way.
THE HUGE RANGE OF CATERING SERVICES YOU CAN OFFER
By reviewing the various options that you may have available, we help you choose your services to make the most of your interests and skills. These options may include event catering, kids' parties, boardroom lunches, sandwich delivery, weddings and engagements, funerals and conference catering. We also discuss opportunities you may not have considered such as appearances on TV, radio and in print.
GOURMET COOKING, RECIPES AND TIPS
Learn the principles of complementary cooking and apply them to some easy recipes. The advantage of these recipes lies in the fact that, once mastered, you'll be able to create so many variations and spin-offs that you will expand your cooking repertoire by over 100 meals. The method also helps simplify the cooking process and saves you valuable time. We also give you some great tips on reduced-fat cooking, how to identify the chemicals in food, and general tips on making life in the kitchen more efficient and fun.
SELECTING A SURE-FIRE RANGE OF SALEABLE PRODUCTS
There are literally thousands of products you can make and sell in the food industry. We look at the range of options, investigate the market for these products and give you ideas on selling, labelling and packaging. We also explain how to develop your signature dish or speciality. Some of the ideas included are biscuits, cakes, pastries, confectionery, drinks, frozen meals, hampers, pre-packaged foods, sauces, seasonal products, drinks and organic foods.
HOW TO OPERATE A PROFITABLE BUSINESS
Once you've chosen your products and services and your business is ready to open, you need to make sure you have the systems in place so your operation runs smoothly and is profitable. This section takes you through developing a routine, making food in advance, proper storage and refrigeration, sourcing your raw materials and how to work in conjunction with another caterer. We also detail equipment, space requirements and the tools of the trade you need to make your life as stress-free as possible.
CATERING FOR EVENTS SUCH AS WEDDINGS AND CONFERENCES
When you know how to go about it, there is serious money to be made in catering for special events such as weddings, parties, business conferences and other large functions. There is also potential for repeat business and referral work as clients pass on your details. Here, you'll learn exactly how the professionals deal with sub-contractors. Crockery, cutlery, linen, table settings, getting food to the venue, weather and those inevitable surprises on the day: by the end of this section you'll have your own preparation sheet and checklist to make sure every runs smoothly.
MARKETING AND SELLING YOUR SERVICES
This is one of the most important topics in this course, and your ability to adequately market and sell your products and services means you'll have your business flowing as soon as you open your doors. You'd be surprised at how many small businesses do very little to market their products and services, so with the professional tips and practical marketing techniques we show you, it will be easy to stand out from the competition and boost your sales.
SORTING THROUGH FINANCIAL, LEGAL AND PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ok, this topic may be boring to some, but it is critical to the success of any business. Specific to the food service industry, we get you up to speed on the administrative procedures you need to make sure you are operating a slick operation and help you keep track of invoices, insurance and the money coming in.
