Epicurean Catering

What Epicurean Catering does

Epicurean Catering (legal entity Epicurean Hospitality Group) is a privately held, family-owned hospitality services company founded in 1981 by Larry DiPasquale and headquartered in Centennial, Colorado. The company operates as a six-division integrated platform covering off-premise catering (corporate events, social events, weddings), professional sports hospitality (Empower Field at Mile High, X Games, golf and ski tournaments), venue management (exclusive caterer at 26+ premier Colorado venues), restaurant concepts (Mangia Bevi Cafe, Bella Cucina Giardino, Pizza Theory, Zespas), destination management (E5 Events), and community outreach (Epicurean Cares). Epicurean serves over 1,000 events annually and is ranked among the top 25 caterers globally by Special Events Magazine.

The underlying operating model is labor- and logistics-intensive rather than technology-driven: food preparation, event execution, on-site service staff, menu design, and venue management form the core capability stack. Differentiated capabilities include Denver's first Colorado Proud certified catering program, a Green Events sustainability practice exceeding EPA requirements, and an extensive long-dated venue partnership portfolio. The company has no disclosed software, AI/ML, or platform technology products, and operates without mobile apps, public APIs, or proprietary digital infrastructure.

Revenue is generated through five streams: per-event off-premise catering fees, managed sports hospitality contracts (notably the long-term Empower Field engagement), venue management and licensing partnerships, restaurant dine-in and private event sales, and destination management fees via E5 Events. Pricing is quote-based and customized per event with no public tiers, supplemented by a 15% nonprofit discount for fundraising galas. Customer segments span enterprise (corporate events, sports venues), SMB (weddings, social gatherings), and nonprofits. Geographic focus is Colorado and the broader Western United States, with the company remaining family-controlled with no reported private equity, venture capital, or public market involvement across its 40+ year history.

Name

Epicurean Catering

Legal name

Epicurean Hospitality Group

Website

https://epicureangroupco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Epicurean Catering is a family-owned Colorado hospitality company operating six divisions — off-premise catering, professional sports hospitality, venue management, restaurants, destination management, and community outreach — serving 1,000+ corporate, social, wedding, and sports events annually across the Western United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Caterers (72232)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate & Business Event Catering (THAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Event catering services
• Corporate event catering
• Wedding catering
• Sports hospitality services
• Venue catering management

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Off-Premise Catering: Full-service catering for events at client-specified venues including corporate events, weddings, social gatherings, and galas. Revenue generated through per-event service fees, food and beverage pricing, and service staff charges.
2. Sports Hospitality: Premium concession operations and hospitality services at professional sports venues including Empower Field at Mile High. Includes suite catering, club services, and concession operations for NFL, golf, ski, and other sporting events.
3. Restaurant Operations: Operating restaurant concepts including Mangia Bevi Cafe (open to public for breakfast and lunch) and Bella Cucina Giardino (available for private events). Revenue from dine-in service and event rentals.
4. Venue Management: Exclusive or preferred catering partnerships with premier Colorado venues. Epicurean provides specialty menus, management, and business development for venue partners.
5. Destination Management (E5 Events): Event planning agency offering immersive branding experiences with transparent planning processes for corporate and social events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Epicurean Catering provides off-premise and venue-based catering and hospitality services for corporate events, social celebrations, weddings, and professional sports venues. The company operates six integrated divisions covering catering, sports hospitality, venue management, restaurant concepts, destination/event management, and community outreach, serving over 1,000 events annually across Colorado and the Western United States.

Product overview

Epicurean Catering is a hospitality company operating as a platform of six divisions: Epicurean Catering (main catering division, top 25 in the country serving 1,000+ events annually), Epicurean Sports (sports hospitality since 1982), Epicurean Venues (exclusive venue caterer including Empower Field at Mile High), Epicurean Restaurants (restaurant concepts including Mangia Bevi Café and Bella Cucina Giardino), E5 Events (event planning agency), and Epicurean Cares (community outreach). The company provides catering services across corporate events, social events, weddings, and professional sports hospitality, serving as the exclusive or preferred caterer at premier venues across Colorado.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mangia Bevi Café: Restaurant open to the public for breakfast and lunch, available for private event rentals at night
• Bella Cucina Giardino
• Pizza Theory
• Zespas

Products and services

• Epicurean Catering (Off-Premise Catering)
• Epicurean Sports (Professional Sports Hospitality)
• Epicurean Venues (Venue Management)
• Epicurean Restaurants
• E5 Events (Destination Management / Event Planning Agency)
• Corporate Events Catering
• Wedding Catering
• Mangia Bevi Café

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 1,000+ events per year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Empower Field at Mile HighcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEpicurean is the exclusive caterer at Empower Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos. This 23-year partnership includes premium concession operations, 144 suite catering services, and clubhouse hospitality for NFL games and major sporting events.
• Denver Center for the Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEpicurean is the exclusive or preferred caterer at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Partnership includes event catering for performances, galas, and annual fundraisers including Saturday Night Alive.
• Palazzo Verdi Event FacilitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPalazzo Verdi is a Gold rated LEED Building where Epicurean provides catering services. Partnership features sustainable event capabilities in an environmentally certified venue.
• WeDontWaste.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEpicurean partners with WeDontWaste.org to provide excess food to Denver's less fortunate. This partnership supports their community outreach mission and sustainability goals, diverting food from waste while feeding those in need.
• We Don't WastecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership since 2010 supporting food redistribution efforts. Last year partnership helped donate 97,177 servings of repurposed food and $145,765 saved through food waste reduction.
• Waste ManagementminorOthersEpicurean uses Waste Management for single stream recycling services, supporting their 90% waste diversion rate and sustainability initiatives.
• Alpine Waste and RecyclingminorOthersEpicurean composts an average of 500 pounds per week through Alpine Waste and Recycling as part of their environmental sustainability program.
• Rocky Mountain SustainableminorOthersEpicurean maintains an oil recycling program through Rocky Mountain Sustainable for proper disposal and recycling of cooking oils.
• E5 EventscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerE5 Events is a unique event planning agency within Epicurean Group that brings transparency to fully immersive branding experiences. Joel Villezcas serves as Director of Sales & Operations.
• Visit DenvermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarry DiPasquale serves on the Visit Denver Foundation Board and Tourism Founder's Board. Visit Denver is the city's tourism marketing organization, supporting Epicurean's role in Denver's hospitality ecosystem.
• Johnson & Wales UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarry DiPasquale serves as Trustee across 4 Johnson & Wales campuses for 5 years and received Doctor of Business Administration in Food Service Entrepreneurship Honoris Causa. Partnership includes culinary education and industry leadership.
• Colorado Tourism BoardmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarry DiPasquale was appointed by the Governor to represent all food & beverage in Colorado on the Colorado Tourism Board for 5 years, positioning Epicurean as a key stakeholder in state tourism.
• National Sports Center for the DisabledcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarry DiPasquale served on the board for 10 years with 5 years on the Executive Committee and received the 2010 Black Diamond Ball Distinguished Service Award. Epicurean supports disabled sports programs.
• Colorado Restaurant AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarry DiPasquale served on the Colorado & National Restaurant Association board for 10 years, inducted into Hall of Fame, and received the 2019 Humanitarian Award. Partnership supports industry advocacy and standards.
• The Adoption ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEpicurean has supported The Adoption Exchange since 1983, making it one of their longest community partnerships. Larry DiPasquale serves as honorary Trustee for 30 years and established a minority scholarship through the DiPasquale Family Foundation.
• Denver Center for the Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing support since 1989 for Denver's premier performing arts venue. Partnership includes event catering and support for theatrical productions and community programming.
• Volunteers of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 1992 supporting Volunteers of America programs. Served 16,000 meals to Denver's homeless through this partnership and hosts the Volunteers of America Western Fantasy event for 30 years.
• Thunder FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing support since 1998 for Thunder Foundation community programs and initiatives.
• Project PAVEmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2003 supporting Project PAVE's youth empowerment and violence prevention programs.
• John Lynch FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2004 supporting John Lynch Foundation's youth sports and education initiatives.
• Peyback FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2012 supporting Peyback Foundation's programs for underprivileged youth in the Western US.
• 26+ Denver Area VenuescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEpicurean serves as exclusive or preferred caterer at 26+ premier venues including Archetype Distillery, Asterisk, Blanc, Cable Center, Catbird Hotel, Denver Botanic Gardens, EXDO Event Center, Fillmore Auditorium, Infinity Park Event Center, Ironworks, McNichols Civic Center, The Mission Ballroom, Mile High Station, Moss, Seawell Ballroom, Skylight, Space Gallery, The Hangar at Stanley, Wings Over the Rockies, and others.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Patina Restaurant Group: Premium event and off-premise caterer operating restaurant venues and high-end corporate/social catering in major US markets; comparable to Epicurean's integrated catering-plus-restaurant model and luxury event positioning.
• Restaurant Associates: Specialized food service contractor and event caterer serving corporate, cultural, and institutional clients with bespoke hospitality programs; comparable to Epicurean's corporate event catering and contracted venue service model.
• Constellation Culinary Group: Full-service off-premise event caterer serving corporate, social, wedding, and nonprofit clients with custom menus and event design; comparable to Epicurean Catering in core event-catering services and customer segments.
• Occasions Caterers: Washington DC-area full-service off-premise caterer serving corporate, social, and wedding clients with venue partnerships; comparable business model to Epicurean's catering-plus-venue-management approach.
• Catering by Design: Nashville-based off-premise event caterer specializing in corporate, social, and wedding events with exclusive venue partnerships; comparable in scale, service mix, and venue-driven distribution to Epicurean Catering.
• Levy Restaurants: Sports and entertainment hospitality division of Compass Group operating premium concessions, suites, and catering at major US stadiums and arenas; directly comparable to Epicurean Sports at Empower Field and similar premium venues.
• Abigail Kirsch: New York-based premium off-premise caterer for corporate, social, and wedding events at premier venues; comparable to Epicurean's high-end event catering and exclusive venue partnership approach.

Broad incumbents

• Sodexo Live!: Global venue hospitality operator (formerly Centerplate) delivering premium concessions, catering, and suite services at sports, convention, and entertainment venues; broader scale but overlapping sports-hospitality offering with Epicurean Sports.
• Delaware North: Privately held hospitality and food service company operating premium concessions, catering, and retail at professional sports venues, airports, and destination resorts; directly comparable sports-hospitality services to Epicurean Sports.
• Aramark: Global food services and facility operator with a dedicated Sports + Entertainment division serving NFL, MLB, NHL, and college venues; competes with Epicurean Sports for stadium concessions contracts and offers comparable catering capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EpicureanDenver
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epicurean-catering
• Instagraminstagram.com/epicureancatering

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries6 records

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 Epicurean Catering