What Catering by Michaels does

Catering by Michaels is a Chicago-area full-service catering company founded in 1983 (operating as Catering By Michaels, a Morton Grove-based private business), delivering both full-service on-site catering and delivery catering for weddings, social events, and corporate functions across the Chicagoland and North Shore markets. The company operates a commissary kitchen and brings fully equipped on-site cooking capabilities to client venues, supported by a proprietary database of over 14,500 recipes, an experienced culinary leadership team (including a Le Cordon Bleu Paris-trained Executive Chef and an Executive Pastry Chef trained at Spiaggia), and a large bench of dedicated Event Coordinators. Since 2019, the company has served as the exclusive caterer and event management partner for The Moraine, a 100-acre premier event venue in Highland Park operated with the City of Highland Park.

The business generates revenue through three primary streams: full-service catering (custom menus, staff, rentals, bar, setup, cleanup), delivery catering (gourmet à la carte and seasonal menus delivered to homes, offices, and venues), and venue-managed events at The Moraine. Pricing is quote-based and customized per event; consumer-facing sales are increasingly supported by a self-serve online ordering platform. Distribution is direct sales-led via Event Coordinators with phone, email, and website inquiry channels. Customers are segmented across weddings, corporate events (meetings, galas, board dinners, picnics), and social occasions, with named engagements including Columbia College and Northwestern Settlement.

Since 2022 the company has been wholly owned by Lisa Ware (President), with founder Stewart Glass remaining in an advisory capacity, EVP David Sandler overseeing culinary and operations, and COO Jeff Ware leading waste reduction and the recipe database. The company holds Green Restaurant Association certification (for sustainability practices including nearly 20% sustainably sourced food, 80%+ sustainable seafood, 36% vegan options, and free-range poultry) and WBENC woman-owned certification, and is an exclusive member of Leading Caterers of America and a recipient of CATIE awards from the International Caterers Association.

Name

Catering by Michaels

Legal name

Catering By Michaels

Website

https://cateringbymichaels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Catering by Michaels is a Chicagoland full-service and delivery catering company serving weddings, social events, and corporate functions since 1983, with on-site kitchen capabilities, a 14,500-recipe proprietary database, and exclusive catering rights at the 100-acre Moraine venue in Highland Park.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Caterers (72232)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Catering (Weddings, Social, Private Parties) (THAFAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Catering Coordination & Bar Service Management (Non-restaurant) (HSACAAAH), Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)

Keywords

• Full-service catering
• Wedding catering services
• Corporate event catering
• Delivery catering
• Event venue management

Headquarters

HQ city

Morton Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Full Service Catering: Comprehensive catering service including customized menu design, on-site food preparation and cooking, professional staff, bar service, tables, chairs, linens, setup, and cleanup. All-inclusive pricing covering every aspect of event catering.
2. Delivery Catering: Gourmet quality food delivered from kitchen to event locations. Includes à la carte year-round and seasonal menus, upscale trays and platters. Simplified service with shorter order notice options.
3. Venue Management - The Moraine: Exclusive caterer and event management partner for The Moraine venue in Highland Park, IL. Manages all aspects of events at this 100-acre nature preserve venue with capacity up to 500 guests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Catering by Michaels is a Chicago-area full-service catering company that provides on-site food preparation and complete event management for weddings, social events, and corporate events. The company brings its kitchen, professional staff, and equipment to client venues, handling customized menu design, setup, service, and cleanup. It also offers delivery catering with gourmet pre-prepared food transported to event locations, and operates as the exclusive caterer and event manager for The Moraine venue in Highland Park, IL.

Product overview

Catering by Michaels is a Chicago-area catering company offering two primary service types: Full Service Catering (on-site food preparation with complete event management brought to the client's venue) and Delivery Catering (pre-prepared gourmet food delivered directly). The portfolio includes specialized services for Weddings, Social Events, Corporate Events, and Corporate Picnics, with the company serving as exclusive caterer for The Moraine venue. An online ordering system enables direct customer orders for delivery items.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Moraine: A premier event venue in Highland Park, IL (formerly Highland Park Country Club), operated in partnership with the City of Highland Park. Catering by Michaels serves as the exclusive caterer and event management partner.

Products and services

• Full Service Catering On-site food preparation and full-service event management where the company brings its kitchen, professional staff, and equipment to the client's venue, handling everything from customized menus and on-site cooking through bar service, rentals, setup, and cleanup.
• Delivery Catering Pre-prepared gourmet food delivered from the company's kitchen to event locations at homes, offices, or external venues, featuring simplified menus, à la carte year-round and seasonal menus, plus upscale trays and platters with shorter order notice options.
• Wedding Catering Custom wedding catering with personalized menus, dedicated event coordination, and collaboration with top photographers, florists, bakers, and event planners to deliver fully integrated wedding experiences across classic garden, vintage, cultural, and farm-to-table wedding styles.
• Social Event Catering Full-service catering for special occasions including birthdays, bar/bat mitzvahs, anniversaries, graduations, holiday parties, and dinner parties, with customized menus, on-site food preparation, and accommodation of ethnic and dietary-restricted dishes.
• Corporate Catering Business event catering including corporate meetings, galas, board dinners, holiday parties, employee appreciation events, and company picnics, served by professional service staff with innovative menu options aligned with corporate branding and sustainability values.
• The Moraine Venue Management Exclusive venue management and catering partnership for The Moraine, a 100-acre premier North Shore nature preserve event venue in Highland Park, IL, accommodating up to 500 guests for cocktail events and 350 for seated events. Operated in partnership with the City of Highland Park.
• Online Ordering System Web-based self-service platform allowing customers to browse seasonal and themed menus and place delivery catering orders directly through the website for pickup or delivery to event locations.
• Specialized Catering Menus Themed menu collections including Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Cocktail Style Events, Dessert, Individually Packaged, Summer, Graduation, and Holiday menus available through the delivery catering service.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 20% of food purchased is sustainable or locally sourced; 36% is vegan; 80%+ of seafood is sustainable; all poultry is free-range
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Leading Caterers of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive membership in elite nationwide network of leading catering professionals. Provides access to industry best practices, benchmarking, and collective expertise among top caterers across the United States.
• Green Restaurant AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental certification through DineGreen.com. Company meets Green Restaurant Association standards for sustainable sourcing, waste minimization, energy efficiency, water conservation, and environmentally preferable products.
• The Moraine (City of Highland Park)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive caterer and event management partner for The Moraine venue (formerly Highland Park Country Club). Collaboration between City of Highland Park and Catering by Michaels to operate premier 100-acre North Shore event venue accommodating up to 500 guests.
• International Live Events Association (ILEA) Chicago ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member and caterer for ILEA Chicago Chapter events including the annual Masters' Dinner.
• National Restaurant AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the leading foodservice industry trade association.
• National Association for Catering and Events (NACE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of professional catering and events association for industry networking and education.
• International Caterers Association (ICA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member association. President Lisa Ware serves as Director on the Board for ICA.
• WeddingWireminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed vendor on WeddingWire platform for wedding catering services. Platform provides lead generation and customer referrals.
• Columbia CollegeminorOthersGreen-conscious educational institution client whose sustainability values align with company's environmental practices. Staff are well-versed in green policies and procedures.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fooda: Fooda is a Chicago-based corporate catering and workplace food platform connecting offices with local restaurants and caterers for daily meal programs and corporate events. Comparable in operating geography and serving overlapping corporate clients, though more focused on recurring workplace meals rather than premium event catering.
• Paramount Events: Paramount Events is a Chicago-based full-service caterer and event production company specializing in weddings, galas, and corporate events with on-site cooking and custom menu design. Comparable service model, customer base, and geographic footprint to Catering by Michaels in the premium event space.
• ZeroCater: ZeroCater is a corporate catering provider that manages recurring meal programs and event catering for businesses. Comparable in serving corporate clients with both delivery and event-style catering, though with a more tech-forward, recurring-meal-program focus than Catering by Michaels' premium full-service events.
• Sterling Catering: Sterling Catering is a Chicago-area full-service caterer providing on-premise event catering for corporate, wedding, and social clients with custom menus and staffing. Direct overlap with Catering by Michaels in service offering, customer segments, and Chicagoland geographic focus.
• Blue Plate Catering: Blue Plate is a long-standing Chicago full-service catering company serving weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings with comparable on-site preparation capabilities and Chicago metro focus. It is one of the most direct head-to-head competitors to Catering by Michaels in the local premium event catering segment.
• Limelight Catering: Limelight Catering is a Chicago-area full-service catering and event design firm specializing in weddings and corporate events with custom menus and full event staffing. Direct competitor with overlapping service model, customer segments, and geographic focus in the Chicagoland premium event market.

Broad incumbents

• ezCater: ezCater is a national online catering marketplace that connects corporate buyers with thousands of local caterers for business meals and events. Overlaps with Catering by Michaels' corporate delivery catering segment and competes indirectly via its marketplace scale, though it operates a fundamentally different platform-based model.
• Wolfgang Puck Catering: Wolfgang Puck Catering is a celebrity-chef-led national catering operation serving high-end corporate, social, and entertainment industry events across major US markets. Comparable premium positioning and on-site event preparation model, though with a broader geographic footprint and stronger national brand recognition.

Regional players

• Boka Restaurant Group: Boka Restaurant Group operates a portfolio of acclaimed Chicago restaurants and event spaces, often providing catering and private event services. Comparable in serving high-end Chicago corporate and social events with culinary depth, though more restaurant-anchored than CBM's dedicated catering operations.

Emerging players

• Catering by Design: Catering by Design is a Midwest-based full-service catering company serving weddings, corporate events, and private parties with custom menu design and on-site service. Comparable service offering and event types, with similar on-site preparation approach but operating across multiple Midwest cities rather than concentrated in Chicago.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cateringchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catering-by-michaels
• Instagraminstagram.com/cateringbymichaels
• Facebookfacebook.com/cateringchicago

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 by Michaels