Catering by Design
Catering by Design is a founder-owned Denver-based catering and integrated event décor company, founded in 1996, serving weddings, corporate, nonprofit, and social events across the Colorado Front Range and mountain resort markets including Vail and Aspen.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Catering by Design does
Catering by Design is a Denver, Colorado-based, founder-owned catering and event décor company established in 1996 by Ingrid Nagy and Cade Nagy. The business provides customized, full-service catering and integrated "Enlightened Décor" (concept and spatial design, furnishings, florals, and styling) for weddings, corporate events, nonprofit galas, social gatherings, and picnics. It serves the Denver metro area, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and the mountain resort markets of Vail and Aspen, and additionally manages on-site restaurant operations at Denver Botanic Gardens through a dedicated partnership.
The company operates on a project-based, quote-driven professional services model, with pricing determined per event by guest count, menu, décor scope, and service level. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct-to-client, supported by a management team of approximately 30 named professionals across culinary (two Executive Chefs, an Executive Sous Chef, a Pastry Chef), sales, creative and marketing, event service, operations, and warehouse functions. Distribution relies on the company website's comprehensive inquiry form, organic social media (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn), and referral channels from venues, event planners, and prior clients.
Catering by Design has no disclosed external funding, no technology platform, and no app or API products. Its competitive moat is built on nearly 30 years of operating history, more than 20 industry trade awards (CATIES, ILEA, NACE, ICON between 2017 and 2026), CSEP-certified leadership, a 15-year annual Nonprofit Event Giveaway program ($25,000 in-kind annually), and an integrated food-plus-décor offering that positions the firm as a leading premium caterer in the Colorado Front Range.
Catering by Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Catering by Design
- Legal name
- Catering by Design
- Website
- https://cateringbd.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Catering by Design is a founder-owned Denver-based catering and integrated event décor company, founded in 1996, serving weddings, corporate, nonprofit, and social events across the Colorado Front Range and mountain resort markets including Vail and Aspen.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Catering by Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Catering and Design Services
- NAICS
- Caterers (722320), Caterers (72232), Special Food Services (7223)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE), Corporate & Business Event Catering (THAHAKAA), Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly) (HSACAGAH)
Keywords
Where Catering by Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Catering by Design 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: One-time event catering services for weddings, corporate events, nonprofit galas, social events, and picnics. Revenue is generated through per-event engagements with custom menus and décor solutions tailored to each client's requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom event-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Catering by Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Catering by Design provides full-service, customized event catering and integrated décor (Enlightened Décor) for weddings, corporate events, nonprofit galas, social celebrations, picnics, kosher events, and mountain destination events. Each engagement is custom-designed by an Event Designer, Sales Director, and Executive Chef team, with original menus, spatial/furnishing/floral design, on-site culinary execution, and event service staffing delivered as a single contracted offering.
Product overview
Catering by Design is an award-winning Denver-based catering and event décor company with nearly 30 years in business. The company operates as a unified service offering centered around two core capabilities: Catering Services (custom menus for weddings, corporate events, nonprofit organizations, and social gatherings) and Enlightened Décor (concept and spatial design with furnishings, florals, and event styling). The product portfolio is organized by event type (Weddings, Corporate, Nonprofit, Social, Picnic) with supporting modules including Kosher Catering, Venue Services, and Mountain Events (Aspen/Vail). The company integrates food and décor services to deliver customized event experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Catering Services Custom, original catering menus designed for weddings, corporate events, nonprofit organizations, social gatherings, picnics, kosher events, and mountain destination events. Each menu is developed by an in-house executive chef team and executed by professional event service staff.
- Enlightened Décor Integrated concept and spatial design services including thoughtful furnishings, accents, soft seating, floral arrangements, and detail enhancements that bring function and fashion to event spaces. Sold as a complement to or bundled with Catering Services.
- Wedding Catering Full-service wedding catering including custom menus, design concepts, and event execution for ceremonies, receptions, and rehearsal dinners, paired with Enlightened Décor for an integrated experience.
- Corporate Event Catering Catering and décor for corporate functions including meetings, conferences, product launches, team events, and business celebrations, with professional presentation and ability to scale to large groups.
- Nonprofit Event Services Comprehensive catering and event solutions for nonprofit organizations including gala events, fundraisers, virtual events, volunteer events, appreciation events, board dinners, and cocktail parties, supported by an annual $25,000 Nonprofit Event Giveaway program.
- Social Catering Catering and décor services for social events and gatherings including birthday parties, anniversaries, holiday celebrations, and other personal events of varying sizes.
- Picnic Services Customized picnic catering and event experiences for outdoor corporate picnics, team events, company gatherings, and casual social picnics.
- Kosher Catering Specialized kosher food preparation and catering services compliant with kosher dietary requirements for events requiring kosher observance.
- Mountain Events (Aspen, Vail) Catering and event services for mountain resort locations in Aspen, Vail, and surrounding areas, including mountain resort weddings, destination weddings, and corporate retreats in mountain communities.
- Venue Services Venue coordination and management services for events, including restaurant management partnerships such as the Denver Botanic Gardens restaurant operations led by Nicole Esther as Manager of Restaurants.
Companies that use Catering by Design
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Catering by Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Catering by Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Denver Botanic GardenscoreThe company manages restaurant operations at Denver Botanic Gardens, with Nicole Esther serving as Manager of Restaurants. This partnership provides a consistent venue for catering operations and enhances the company's presence in the hospitality sector.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Catering by Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- A Thyme to Cook: Texas-based full-service catering and event design company serving weddings, corporate, and social events with custom menus and décor—comparable integrated event experience offering outside Colorado.
- Footers Catering: Long-standing Denver-area event caterer serving weddings, corporate, and social events. Closest geographic and product direct competitor with overlapping client base in the Colorado Front Range.
- Cool River Catering: Denver-based full-service event caterer offering weddings, corporate, and social catering with custom menus and event design—overlapping market, similar premium positioning.
- Design Cuisine: DC-area full-service catering and event design company with integrated custom menus and décor/lighting/floral production. Closely comparable in its bundled food-plus-environment service model, though serving a different region.
- Epicurean Group Catering: Premium Colorado-based catering and event company serving the Denver/Boulder/Corridor market with custom menus for weddings, corporate, and social events. Comparable scale, geography, and bespoke service model.
- Abigail Kirsch: NYC-based premium event caterer with on-site culinary, décor, and venue coordination services for high-end weddings, corporate galas, and social events. Comparable premium positioning and integrated event experience offering.
- Sterling Catering & Events: Mid-Atlantic full-service caterer delivering custom menus, event design, and bar services for weddings, corporate, and nonprofit events—comparable integrated catering + décor offering at similar scale.
- Occasions Caterers: Washington DC-area premier event caterer specializing in custom menus, décor, and full-service event production for weddings, galas, and corporate functions. Similar full-service, design-integrated model.
Broad incumbents
- Sodexo Events & Catering: Global contract food services provider with significant event catering division serving corporate and institutional clients. Operates in a much broader category and scale tier, but competes for the same premium corporate event contracts.
- Meriwether Godsey: Regional hospitality group operating multiple catering, dining, and event services across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Larger, multi-service incumbent with overlapping catering offerings but broader portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Catering by Design social profiles
Digital presenceCatering by Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Catering by Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Catering by Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Catering by Design 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 Catering by Design
What does Catering by Design do?
Catering by Design provides full-service, customized event catering and integrated décor (Enlightened Décor) for weddings, corporate events, nonprofit galas, social celebrations, picnics, kosher events, and mountain destination events. Each engagement is custom-designed by an Event Designer, Sales Director, and Executive Chef team, with original menus, spatial/furnishing/floral design, on-site culinary execution, and event service staffing delivered as a single contracted offering.
Is Catering by Design a public or private company?
Catering by Design is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Catering by Design founded?
Catering by Design was founded in 1996. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Catering by Design based?
Catering by Design is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Catering by Design make money?
One revenue line is on record: event Catering Services.
Who are Catering by Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are A Thyme to Cook, Footers Catering, Cool River Catering, Design Cuisine, Epicurean Group Catering, Abigail Kirsch, Sterling Catering & Events and Occasions Caterers. Broad incumbents are Sodexo Events & Catering and Meriwether Godsey.
Does Catering by Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for Catering by Design.
What industry is Catering by Design in?
Catering by Design's product category is Event Catering and Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACAGAA, Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise), with a secondary code of THAHAKAE, Wedding & Social Event Catering. Its NAICS code is 722320.