What Catering Works does

Catering Works is an off-premise catering and full-service event production company headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, operating since 1989 with a staff of 101–250. The company delivers integrated event solutions spanning culinary, in-house floral design (Bloom Works), custom cakes and desserts, bar service, and event coordination, serving wedding couples, corporate clients, social event hosts, and cultural institutions across the Triangle area and beyond. Its revenue mix includes custom-quoted full-service events (weddings, galas, corporate functions), self-serve delivery and drop-off catering, retail floral, on-site F&B operations at the North Carolina Museum of Art under an exclusive partnership, and packaged retail food sales (sandwiches, snacks, salads, Ella's Popcorn) through RDU International Airport kiosks operated with MERA Corporation.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market combining enterprise field sales for full-service events and weddings with self-serve online ordering for drop-off catering. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with wedding and full-service catering priced per-event with custom menus, and delivery services priced per-order. The company leverages a curated network of venue partners (The Stockroom, The Sutherland, Timberlake Historic House, Pine Lake Pavilion, AIA Center) for referral-driven demand and a content marketing engine (blog, email newsletter, social media) for top-of-funnel awareness. Distribution spans direct sales, self-serve ordering portals, venue concessions, and airport retail.

Founded by Jill Santa Lucia and identified as Woman and Veteran owned, Catering Works has earned multiple industry recognitions including NACE "Best in Category" floral design awards (three consecutive years) and the 2024 NCSFA Floral Designer of the Year. The leadership team comprises Executive Chefs Rich Carter and Frank Peters, Floral Director EW Fulcher, VP/Marketing Director Lorin Laxton, and Director of Sales Kelli Harrison. The company has no disclosed external funding, operates as a private firm, and has expanded organically through venue partnerships and product line extensions rather than acquisitions or external capital.

Name

Catering Works

Legal name

Catering Works

Website

https://cateringworks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Catering Works is a Raleigh, North Carolina-based off-premise catering and event production company founded in 1989, providing integrated culinary, floral design, and event planning services for weddings, corporate clients, social events, and cultural institutions across the Triangle area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Food Service Contractors (722310), Special Food Services (7223)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE), Catering Coordination & Bar Service Management (Non-restaurant) (HSACAAAH), Event Culinary Staffing & Back-of-House Services (Chefs, Servers, Bartenders) (THAHAKAN)

Keywords

• Off-premise catering services
• Wedding event catering
• Corporate gala catering
• Drop-off meal delivery
• Floral event design

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Full-Service Catering & Event Planning: Custom catering and event planning for weddings, social events, corporate galas, and private parties. Services range from simple delivery drop-off to elaborate full-service events with menu design, food and beverage, cakes, floral arrangements, and full reception design. Revenue is generated through per-event service contracts and menu pricing.
2. Delivery & Drop-Off Catering: Pre-packaged and custom drop-off catering orders for corporate lunches, private celebrations, and events. Includes boxed/bagged lunches, dessert deliveries, and full menu delivery options. Revenue is per-order, one-time transaction.
3. Bloom Works Floral & Event Design: Bloom Works provides custom floral arrangements, event design, and floral delivery services. Includes add-on flowers for Catering Works delivery orders and standalone floral deliveries. Revenue is generated through per-event design fees and per-delivery floral orders.
4. NCMA Venue Food & Beverage Services: As exclusive food and beverage partner for the North Carolina Museum of Art, Catering Works provides on-site dining at NCMA Café West and East Café, concessions, special event catering, and curated dining experiences (Wine Fridays, Chef's Table events). Revenue from venue food service contracts and event catering.
5. Airport Retail & Reseller Partnerships: Through partnership with MERA Corporation at RDU International Airport, the company operates Lonerider Brewing Company and grab-and-go kiosks in both terminals, and supplies packaged sandwiches, snacks, salads, and Ella's Popcorn to retail settings. Revenue is generated through retail sales and wholesale supply agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Catering Works is an off-premise catering and full-service event production company offering simple delivery drop-off, elaborate full-service events, and everything in between. It supplies food, beverage, custom cakes and desserts, and integrates in-house floral design and event planning through its Bloom Works division. It also operates as the exclusive food and beverage partner for the North Carolina Museum of Art (on-site cafes, concessions, and event catering) and runs retail food operations at RDU International Airport via a partnership with MERA Corporation.

Product overview

Catering Works is an off-premise catering and special event planning company offering a comprehensive portfolio of services. The core offering is Catering Works (core catering), supplemented by Bloom Works Floral for floral and event design. The company serves as the exclusive food and beverage partner for the North Carolina Museum of Art through NCMA Venue Services. Service offerings include delivery catering (drop-off and corporate delivery), wedding services (full turn-key events with various dining styles), social events (corporate galas, private celebrations), Libations Bar Menu (beverages), Dessert Services (cakes, pastry), and Ella's Popcorn. The company also operates The Laurelbrook as an on-site venue. The business is locally owned and operated in Raleigh, North Carolina, serving the Triangle area and other regions in and out of state.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catering Works (Core Catering and Full-Service Event Production) Off-premise catering and full-service event production for weddings, corporate galas, social events, and private parties in the Triangle area of North Carolina and beyond. Includes menu design, food and beverage service, staffing, and event coordination as a single integrated offering.
• Bloom Works Floral and Event Design Custom floral arrangements, event design, and floral delivery services for weddings, corporate events, and private occasions. Available as an add-on to Catering Works orders or as a standalone floral purchase through the Bloom Works retail website.
• NCMA Venue Food and Beverage Services Exclusive food and beverage operations for the North Carolina Museum of Art, including on-site dining at NCMA Café West and East Café, museum concessions, special event catering, and curated dining experiences such as Wine Fridays and Chef's Table events.
• Delivery and Drop-Off Catering Pre-packaged and custom drop-off catering for corporate lunches, office meetings, and home celebrations, including boxed lunches, full meal deliveries, desserts, and beer and wine options. Ordered through an online portal with menu-based per-order pricing.
• Wedding Catering and Bridal Event Services Full-service wedding catering offering multiple dining styles (seated dinners, buffet, stations, family style), wedding cakes, libations, dessert, and integrated floral design. Includes ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner, and bridal events.
• Social and Corporate Event Catering Catering for corporate galas and gatherings, private celebrations, and unique themed events, including libations and dessert add-ons. Priced via custom quotes and supported by an event coordinator.
• Libations Bar and Beverage Service Beverage service offering beer, wine, and cocktail packages for events, plus beer and wine options on delivery orders. Bartending supported through partnerships such as Pour Bar Services (Eric Mullen).
• Dessert and Wedding Cake Service Wedding cakes, pastry services, and dessert menus for weddings, social events, and delivery orders, including event dessert packages.
• Ella's Popcorn Catering Works' proprietary branded popcorn line, available through delivery orders and as a retail item at RDU International Airport via the partnership with MERA Corporation.
• The Laurelbrook On-Site Event Venue On-site venue at Catering Works' headquarters used to host weddings and private events alongside catering services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully served 1,600-person corporate employee event
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MERA CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatering Works serves RDU International Airport through a partnership with MERA Corporation. The company operates Lonerider Brewing Company and grab-and-go kiosks in both terminals 1 and 2 at RDU Airport. Packaged sandwiches, snacks, and salads are available through this retail channel.
• North Carolina Museum of ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatering Works is the exclusive food and beverage partner for the North Carolina Museum of Art. Services include special event catering, concessions, NCMA Café West and East Café operations, and all on-site dining. The partnership provides turnkey design and logistical planning including rental coordination, floral services, and audiovisual coordination.
• The Stockroom at 230minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering Works regularly partners with The Stockroom at 230, a historic downtown Raleigh event venue. The venue is featured on the company's Planning Partners & Venues page and is highlighted as an ideal spot for wedding receptions and corporate events.
• The SutherlandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering Works participates in The Sutherland Wedding Showcase events and regularly caters weddings and events at this historic Wake Forest estate venue.
• Timberlake Historic HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering Works partners with Timberlake Historic House (1803 Georgian-Federal home north of Raleigh) for wedding ceremonies and receptions, featured as a recommended venue on the Planning Partners & Venues page.
• Pine Lake PavilionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering Works showcased Pine Lake Pavilion wedding packages at an open house event and features this Mebane, NC venue on its Planning Partners & Venues page.
• Center for Architectural Design (AIA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering Works participated in a bridal show at the Center for Architectural Design (AIA) building in Raleigh and has catered events at this venue, which can host over 550 people indoors and out.
• Eric Mullen / Pour Bar ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEric Mullen of Pour Bar Services provides full bar and bartending service for Catering Works special events. The partnership enables specialty cocktail programs and bourbon tasting events for clients.
• Ice Occasions (Todd Dawson)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTodd Dawson of Ice Occasions provides custom ice sculptures for Catering Works events. Todd competed in the World Ice Art Championships, taking 2nd place in the most realistic category with a team that included Japanese teammates.
• Mutual DistributingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMutual Distributing provides specialty wines for Catering Works tasting events and private dining experiences, featured at tasting nights and wine-paired events.
• From the Ground Up! (Kim Shope)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKim Shope of From the Ground Up! provides event planning consultation and corporate event planning advice featured in Catering Works' blog. Long-established working relationship between the companies for corporate event planning.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ezCater: Corporate catering marketplace connecting businesses with local caterers for office lunches, meetings, and drop-off catering. Directly comparable to Catering Works' drop-off delivery and corporate lunch revenue stream, with the key difference that ezCater is a tech-enabled aggregator rather than an operator.
• Fooda: Operates pop-up restaurants and drop-off corporate catering programs in office buildings nationwide. Directly comparable as a corporate drop-off catering operator competing for the same office-lunch and meeting-catering demand as Catering Works' delivery channel.
• 24 Carrots Catering & Events: Full-service catering and event production company focused on weddings, corporate, and social events. Directly comparable to Catering Works' integrated catering-plus-event-design model, including in-house floral and design capabilities.
• Wedgewood Weddings & Events: Owns and operates wedding and event venues with in-house catering teams across multiple U.S. states. Comparable to Catering Works' full-service wedding and special-events offering, though Wedgewood controls both venue and catering while Catering Works partners with venues.

Emerging players

• Cater2.me: Tech-enabled corporate catering service providing customized office meal programs and drop-off catering. Comparable as a competitor in the corporate drop-off segment, with a more technology-forward operating model than Catering Works.

Broad incumbents

• Centerplate (Sodexo Live!): Hospitality and catering provider for sports, convention, and cultural venues. Comparable as a venue-anchored catering incumbent that competes for exclusive partnerships at museums, arenas, and convention centers similar to the NCMA relationship.
• Restaurant Associates: Corporate and cultural-venue dining and event catering provider. Comparable as an incumbent competing for museum and corporate-event catering accounts, with in-house culinary and event production capabilities analogous to Catering Works' integrated offering.
• Guckenheimer (part of Compass Group): Corporate dining and event catering provider serving workplaces, cultural institutions, and corporate clients. Comparable as an incumbent operating on-site dining programs at venues analogous to NCMA Café West and East Café.
• ARAMARK: Global food service, facilities, and uniform services company serving corporate, education, healthcare, sports, and cultural venues. Comparable as an incumbent that competes for museum, venue, and corporate catering contracts — including cultural-institution partnerships analogous to the NCMA exclusive.
• Sodexo: Global food services and facilities management company with venue, corporate, and event catering operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for exclusive venue catering contracts and large corporate event work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bloomworksraleigh
• Xx.com/CateringWorks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Catering Works