Five Loaves Catering
Five Loaves Catering is a family-owned, full-service catering company in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, founded in 1989 by Marlene L. Schiftan, providing custom-menu catering for weddings, corporate events, and private social gatherings across the Piedmont Triad region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersWinston Salem, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Five Loaves Catering does
Five Loaves Catering is a family-owned, full-service catering company headquartered at 710 Coliseum Drive in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Founded in 1989 by Marlene L. Schiftan (also referenced as Marlene Littell), the business delivers custom-menu catering for weddings, corporate events, and private social gatherings across Winston-Salem and surrounding areas including High Point. The operating model is direct-to-consumer and quote-based: customers reach the company via website contact forms or phone, receive a custom quote based on event type, guest count, menu selection, and service requirements, and then receive on-site food preparation and professional service staff at the event venue. The company emphasizes locally sourced ingredients from regional purveyors and sustainable farmers, and its culinary output is led by Executive Chef Harrison Littell with a team that includes Chef Mike Kimball and supporting culinary and accounting staff.
The company generates revenue primarily through three service lines: Wedding Catering (personalized menus ranging from Southern Stations to seated dinners and passed hors d'oeuvres), Social/Private Event Catering (intimate in-home dinners to large multi-course affairs), and Corporate Catering (breakfast stations, boxed lunches, executive and board meeting catering). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per engagement. Distribution is direct on-site delivery to venues; the website and Facebook page drive top-of-funnel awareness, while customer referrals — particularly testimonials from Wake Forest University (six-year continuous relationship) and HanesBrands Inc. — drive post-sale word-of-mouth.
In 2016 the company announced an adjacent retail expansion: Five Loaves Fine Foods, a planned storefront offering customer favorites fresh and frozen ready-to-go, plus a 'Chef's Whim Wednesdays' rotating carryout special. The company is privately held with no disclosed outside funding, no patents, no listed partnerships, and no public financial filings.
Five Loaves Catering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Five Loaves Catering
- Legal name
- Five Loaves Catering
- Website
- https://fiveloavescatering.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Five Loaves Catering is a family-owned, full-service catering company in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, founded in 1989 by Marlene L. Schiftan, providing custom-menu catering for weddings, corporate events, and private social gatherings across the Piedmont Triad region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Five Loaves Catering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Catering Services
- NAICS
- Caterers (722320), Food Service Contractors (722310)
- SIC
- Bakery Products (2050), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Drop-Off Catering & Boxed Meals (HSACAGAB), Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE)
Keywords
Where Five Loaves Catering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Winston Salem
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Five Loaves Catering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Event Catering Services: Full-service catering for weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings. Revenue is generated through custom menu design, food preparation, and on-site service for events of varying sizes. Pricing is quote-based depending on menu selection, guest count, and service requirements.
- Retail Fine Foods (Five Loaves Fine Foods): Planned retail storefront offering customer favorites fresh and frozen, ready-to-go. Scheduled to open Summer 2016. Also includes Chef's Whim Wednesdays special carryout items.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Five Loaves Catering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Five Loaves Catering provides full-service catering for weddings, corporate events, and social/private gatherings in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and surrounding areas including High Point. Services include custom menu design, food preparation, and on-site professional service, with modular formats such as boxed lunches, platters, drop-off meals, Southern stations, late-night snacks, and passed hors d'oeuvres. The company also announced plans for a retail storefront, Five Loaves Fine Foods, offering fresh and frozen ready-to-go items.
Product overview
Five Loaves Catering is a Winston-Salem based, family owned catering business providing event catering services. The company operates as a single unified catering service with modular offerings including Wedding Catering, Social Event Catering, and Corporate Catering as core service lines. Sub-products and add-on modules include Boxed Lunches, Platters to Please, Delicious Drop-Offs, Company Picnic services, Southern Stations, Late-Night Snacks, and Passed Hors d'oeuvres. The company has also announced plans to launch 'Five Loaves Fine Foods' as a retail storefront offering fresh and frozen ready-to-go items. Leadership includes Founder/Proprietor Marlene L. Schiftan, Executive Chef Harrison Littell, Chef Mike Kimball, and support staff.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Five Loaves Fine Foods: Retail shop featuring customer favorites, fresh and frozen, ready-to-go. Opening Summer 2016.
Products and services
- Wedding Catering Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Six-year continuous relationship with Wake Forest University President's home events
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Five Loaves Catering
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Five Loaves Catering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Five Loaves Catering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Five Loaves Catering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Windows Catering Company: Established full-service event caterer operating weddings, corporate galas, and social functions with on-site service. Comparable to Five Loaves in delivering custom menus and professional staff for premium events, but operates at significantly larger scale with multiple venues.
- Design Cuisine: Mid-Atlantic full-service caterer specializing in corporate events, weddings, and large-scale social gatherings with custom menu design. Directly comparable business model to Five Loaves' full-service event catering approach with quote-based pricing.
- Ridgewells Catering: Large full-service catering company serving weddings, corporate functions, and social events across the DC/Mid-Atlantic region. Comparable in offering custom menus, on-site service, and premium positioning, but at much larger enterprise scale.
Regional players
- Best Impressions Caterers: Charlotte, NC-based event caterer serving weddings, corporate events, and private parties across the Carolinas. Directly comparable regional full-service catering model competing in adjacent NC geography with similar menu customization and on-site service approach.
- Picnic Perfect Catering: North Carolina-based boxed lunch and corporate drop-off catering company. Overlaps with Five Loaves' corporate boxed lunches and drop-off service modules, serving a similar regional business customer base with grab-and-go style offerings.
Direct peers
- Catering by Design: Full-service caterer offering custom menus for weddings, corporate functions, and private events. Directly comparable in service mix and bespoke event positioning, though operating in different regional markets.
- Occasions Caterers: Full-service caterer focused on weddings, corporate events, and private social gatherings with customizable menus and on-site staffing. Closest direct peer to Five Loaves in service mix, customer segments, and premium event positioning.
- B & B Catering and Events: Full-service caterer providing wedding, corporate, and social event catering with customizable menus and professional service staff. Closely comparable business model to Five Loaves in event-centric catering with modular add-on offerings.
Emerging players
- Persimmon Catering: Boutique event caterer providing custom menus and professional service for weddings and private gatherings. Comparable in event-segment focus and bespoke menu positioning, with similar quote-based pricing model.
- Sandy Feet Events & Catering: Event and wedding catering company offering custom menus and on-site service for social and corporate functions. Comparable mid-size catering model with similar menu customization but smaller geographic footprint.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Five Loaves Catering social profiles
Digital presenceFive Loaves Catering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Five Loaves Catering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Five Loaves Catering subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Five Loaves Catering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Five Loaves Catering M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Five Loaves Catering
What does Five Loaves Catering do?
Five Loaves Catering provides full-service catering for weddings, corporate events, and social/private gatherings in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and surrounding areas including High Point. Services include custom menu design, food preparation, and on-site professional service, with modular formats such as boxed lunches, platters, drop-off meals, Southern stations, late-night snacks, and passed hors d'oeuvres. The company also announced plans for a retail storefront, Five Loaves Fine Foods, offering fresh and frozen ready-to-go items.
Is Five Loaves Catering a public or private company?
Five Loaves Catering is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Five Loaves Catering founded?
Five Loaves Catering was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Five Loaves Catering based?
Five Loaves Catering is headquartered in Winston Salem, United States, in the North America region.
How does Five Loaves Catering make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Event Catering Services are the primary driver. The others are retail Fine Foods (Five Loaves Fine Foods).
Who are Five Loaves Catering's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Windows Catering Company, Design Cuisine and Ridgewells Catering. Regional players are Best Impressions Caterers and Picnic Perfect Catering. Direct peers are Catering by Design, Occasions Caterers and B & B Catering and Events. Emerging players are Persimmon Catering and Sandy Feet Events & Catering.
Does Five Loaves Catering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Five Loaves Catering.
What industry is Five Loaves Catering in?
Five Loaves Catering's product category is Event Catering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACAGAA, Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise), with a secondary code of HSACAGAB, Drop-Off Catering & Boxed Meals. Its NAICS code is 722320 and its SIC code is 2050.