Simply Fresh Events
Simply Fresh Events is a Gaithersburg, Maryland-based full-service catering and event planning company serving weddings, corporate events, galas, and disaster relief operations across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area with custom on-site menus.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersGaithersburg, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Simply Fresh Events does
Simply Fresh Events is a privately held, founder-led catering and event planning company headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Founded in 2015 by two couples (the Phelans and the Barkers), the company employs 51–100 people and serves the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) metropolitan area. Its service portfolio spans four core lines: wedding catering, corporate and social event catering, gala catering, and a differentiated disaster relief catering service capable of supporting base camps for up to 10,000 people with integrated tenting, power, water, and logistics. The company emphasizes restaurant-quality food prepared on-site using fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients, paired with full-service event production management (rentals, florals, d\u00e9cor, timeline coordination).
The business operates on a professional-services revenue model with quote-based pricing tailored per event. Customer acquisition is consultative and sales-led, combining direct inbound (phone, website), venue-driven referrals through a curated network of 30+ partner venues across the DMV (Citizens Ballroom, St. Francis Hall, Glen Echo Park, Shadow Creek, Fleetwood Farm Winery, Hilltop Farm), and marketplace listings (notably WeddingWire). The customer base is diversified across individual wedding couples, corporate accounts, nonprofit organizations, and government/utility clients for disaster work. The company runs a multi-channel marketing program anchored by a regularly updated content blog, social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and community partnerships with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland, Nourishing Bethesda, and the Montgomery County Composting Program.
The technology profile is intentionally low-tech: no proprietary platforms, APIs, or AI/ML systems were identified. Operational differentiation derives from talent (an Executive Chef trained at New England Culinary Institute with prior roles at L'Espalier and Capitol Grille, a Senior Event Designer with 250+ weddings, and a Senior Director of Operations with 20+ years of experience), venue partnerships, and a bootstrapped, founder-controlled ownership structure with no disclosed external investment. The company is privately held, with Matthew Phelan serving as President and Geoff Barker as Vice President and Director of Sales.
Simply Fresh Events firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Simply Fresh Events
- Legal name
- Simply Fresh Events
- Website
- https://simplyfreshevents.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Simply Fresh Events is a Gaithersburg, Maryland-based full-service catering and event planning company serving weddings, corporate events, galas, and disaster relief operations across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area with custom on-site menus.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Simply Fresh Events industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Catering Services
- NAICS
- Caterers (72232), Mobile Food Services (72233), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (71132)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wedding & Bridal Shows (MPAGAFAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Incentive Travel Programs & Retreat Events (Offsites) (MPAGAHAH)
Keywords
Where Simply Fresh Events is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gaithersburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Simply Fresh Events business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Event Catering Services: Custom catering for weddings, corporate events, galas, bar/bat mitzvahs, and social gatherings. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to each event based on guest count, menu selection, service style, and level of planning support required.
- Disaster Relief Catering: Emergency catering services for disaster response operations, serving up to 10,000 people. Includes comprehensive support services such as tenting, power generation, water services, and logistics.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom event pricing based on individual client requirements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Simply Fresh Events product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Simply Fresh Events is a full-service catering and event production company that creates customized menus from fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients prepared on-site. It bundles catering with end-to-end event planning support \u2014 rentals, floral, d\u00e9cor, timeline management, and logistics \u2014 for weddings, corporate events, galas, social celebrations, mitzvahs, and disaster relief operations across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region.
Product overview
Simply Fresh Events is a full-service catering and event planning company offering a unified portfolio of services for weddings, corporate events, galas, and disaster relief. The core offering combines wedding and event catering (with fully customized menus and on-site food preparation) with comprehensive production management including rentals, design, and logistics coordination. The company operates through a network of 30+ venue partnerships across the DMV area and provides specialized disaster catering services for emergency response. Services are delivered through a single integrated approach rather than separate modules, with planning support bundled into the catering experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wedding Catering Full-service wedding catering offering fully customized menus designed to reflect a couple's style and story, featuring restaurant-quality meals prepared on-site with fresh, seasonal ingredients across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region.
- Corporate & Social Events Catering Catering for corporate meetings, leadership retreats, client receptions, weddings, mitzvahs, and milestone celebrations with comprehensive event production support including rentals, entertainment, floral design, and transportation.
- Gala Catering High-profile gala catering including fundraising events and awards ceremonies with custom menus featuring locally sourced ingredients, elegant presentation, and meticulous event planning support.
- Disaster Catering Services Emergency disaster relief catering supporting first responders and relief workers, capable of serving up to 10,000 people across the eastern seaboard with comprehensive support services including tenting, power, water, and logistics.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 250 weddings coordinated by senior event designer Jocelyn Barker
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Simply Fresh Events
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Simply Fresh Events technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Simply Fresh Events partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Habitat for Humanity Metro MarylandminorCommunity partnership supporting Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland's mission to combat poverty and reduce homelessness in the community. Simply Fresh supports through event catering and community involvement.
- Nourishing BethesdaminorCommunity partnership addressing food insecurity in the Bethesda area. Simply Fresh supports through event catering and employee volunteer opportunities, aligning with their core values of community service.
- Montgomery County Composting ProgramminorEnvironmental partnership supporting local composting initiatives. Demonstrates commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly catering practices.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Simply Fresh Events competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Aramark: Global contract services company with major event catering, convention, and emergency feeding operations. Directly comparable to Simply Fresh's disaster catering capability and corporate event offering at much larger scale.
- Sodexo: Global contract food services and event catering provider with corporate, government, and event segments. Overlaps with Simply Fresh's corporate and emergency/disaster catering divisions at institutional scale.
- Centerplate: Hospitality and event caterer focused on sports, convention, and entertainment venues. Provides a scaled-event, on-site food service reference point relevant to Simply Fresh's growing disaster and large-event operations.
- Wolfgang Puck Catering: Nationally recognized premium event catering brand serving weddings, galas, and corporate events across major US markets. Comparable premium menu design, on-site preparation approach, and celebrity-chef positioning, though at meaningfully larger scale.
Direct peers
- Design Cuisine: DC-area full-service catering and event company delivering weddings, galas, and corporate events with custom on-site menus. Closest like-for-like comparable given shared DMV geography, wedding-and-gala focus, and full-service production model.
- Occasions Caterers: Washington DC wedding and corporate event caterer with on-site food preparation and full event coordination. Direct competitor for DMV wedding couples and corporate clients, with comparable premium positioning and service scope.
Regional players
- Great Performances: Established NYC-based event caterer known for cultural institutions, weddings, and corporate galas. Similar focus on locally sourced seasonal menus and full-service event production; geographically distinct but closest premium-event-catering analog.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Simply Fresh Events social profiles
Digital presenceSimply Fresh Events financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Simply Fresh Events leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Simply Fresh Events funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Simply Fresh Events 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 Simply Fresh Events
What does Simply Fresh Events do?
Simply Fresh Events is a full-service catering and event production company that creates customized menus from fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients prepared on-site. It bundles catering with end-to-end event planning support \u2014 rentals, floral, d\u00e9cor, timeline management, and logistics \u2014 for weddings, corporate events, galas, social celebrations, mitzvahs, and disaster relief operations across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region.
Is Simply Fresh Events a public or private company?
Simply Fresh Events is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Simply Fresh Events founded?
Simply Fresh Events was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Simply Fresh Events based?
Simply Fresh Events is headquartered in Gaithersburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Simply Fresh Events make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Event Catering Services are the primary driver. The others are disaster Relief Catering.
Who are Simply Fresh Events's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Aramark, Sodexo, Centerplate and Wolfgang Puck Catering. Direct peers are Design Cuisine and Occasions Caterers. Great Performances is listed as a regional player.
Does Simply Fresh Events have an API?
No public API is recorded for Simply Fresh Events.
What industry is Simply Fresh Events in?
Simply Fresh Events's product category is Event Catering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAFAK, Wedding & Bridal Shows, with a secondary code of MPAGAHAH, Incentive Travel Programs & Retreat Events (Offsites). Its NAICS code is 72232 and its SIC code is 7990.