Epicurean Catering
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersColorado City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Epicurean Catering firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Epicurean Catering industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Epicurean Catering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Colorado City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Epicurean 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Venue Management: Exclusive or preferred catering partnerships with premier Colorado venues. Epicurean provides specialty menus, management, and business development for venue partners.
- Destination Management (E5 Events): Event planning agency offering immersive branding experiences with transparent planning processes for corporate and social events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom event-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Epicurean Catering product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Epicurean Catering
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Epicurean Catering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Epicurean Catering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Empower Field at Mile HighcoreEpicurean 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 ArtscoreEpicurean 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 FacilitymajorPalazzo Verdi is a Gold rated LEED Building where Epicurean provides catering services. Partnership features sustainable event capabilities in an environmentally certified venue.
- WeDontWaste.orgcoreEpicurean 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 WastecoreOngoing 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 ManagementminorEpicurean uses Waste Management for single stream recycling services, supporting their 90% waste diversion rate and sustainability initiatives.
- Alpine Waste and RecyclingminorEpicurean composts an average of 500 pounds per week through Alpine Waste and Recycling as part of their environmental sustainability program.
- Rocky Mountain SustainableminorEpicurean maintains an oil recycling program through Rocky Mountain Sustainable for proper disposal and recycling of cooking oils.
- E5 EventscoreE5 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 DenvermajorLarry 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 UniversitymajorLarry 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 BoardmajorLarry 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 DisabledcoreLarry 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 AssociationmajorLarry 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 ExchangecoreEpicurean 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 ArtscoreOngoing support since 1989 for Denver's premier performing arts venue. Partnership includes event catering and support for theatrical productions and community programming.
- Volunteers of AmericacorePartnership 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 FoundationmajorOngoing support since 1998 for Thunder Foundation community programs and initiatives.
- Project PAVEmajorPartnership since 2003 supporting Project PAVE's youth empowerment and violence prevention programs.
- John Lynch FoundationmajorPartnership since 2004 supporting John Lynch Foundation's youth sports and education initiatives.
- Peyback FoundationmajorPartnership since 2012 supporting Peyback Foundation's programs for underprivileged youth in the Western US.
- 26+ Denver Area VenuescoreEpicurean 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
Epicurean Catering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Epicurean Catering social profiles
Digital presenceEpicurean Catering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Epicurean Catering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Epicurean Catering subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Epicurean Catering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Epicurean 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 Epicurean Catering
What does Epicurean Catering do?
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.
Is Epicurean Catering a public or private company?
Epicurean Catering is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Epicurean Catering founded?
Epicurean Catering was founded in 1981. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Epicurean Catering based?
Epicurean Catering is headquartered in Colorado City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Epicurean Catering make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Off-Premise Catering is the primary driver. The others are sports Hospitality, restaurant Operations, venue Management and destination Management (E5 Events).
Who are Epicurean Catering's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Patina Restaurant Group, Restaurant Associates, Constellation Culinary Group, Occasions Caterers, Catering by Design, Levy Restaurants and Abigail Kirsch. Broad incumbents are Sodexo Live!, Delaware North and Aramark.
Does Epicurean Catering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Epicurean Catering.
What industry is Epicurean Catering in?
Epicurean 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 THAHAKAA, Corporate & Business Event Catering. Its NAICS code is 722320.