Culinary Concepts Catering and Event Planning

What Culinary Concepts Catering and Event Planning does

Culinary Concepts Catering and Event Planning is a privately held, full-service catering and event coordination company founded around 1990 in San Diego, California. The company serves corporate events, weddings, non-profit galas, and private celebrations across San Diego County, operating from solar-powered offices and kitchen facilities and emphasizing locally sourced ingredients, zero-waste practices, and sustainable sourcing from family-owned farms.

The business runs two primary service lines. The first is a full-service catering offering that covers menu design, venue selection assistance, vendor coordination, on-site food preparation, professional service staff, and end-to-end event execution for corporate and convention clients (e.g., Websense, Novartis Pharmaceutical USA, Pfizer La Jolla, Congress of Neurological Surgeons), weddings (e.g., Keeven Family), and cultural or non-profit functions (e.g., Dead Sea Scrolls opening, USS Midway-hosted events). The second is a structured Delivery Catering service for corporate meetings and events throughout San Diego County, with a 10-guest minimum, 2-dozen minimum for appetizers, 48-hour advance ordering, bundled breakfast, buffet, sandwich, hors d'oeuvre, and beverage menus, and an add-on disposable serviceware option. Pricing follows a custom quote model with a 20% service charge and 7.75% California sales tax on delivery orders.

Go-to-market is sales-led, via a dedicated team handling inbound phone and email inquiries, supported by a website (cateringspecialist.com), an email newsletter, organic social media, community partnerships, and a venue-referral channel through preferred-vendor status at more than 50 San Diego venues. Revenue mechanics are professional-services-based: event-by-event quoting, with mix across enterprise, mid-market, SMB, and non-profit clients. The leadership team is led by Owner/CEO Kathy Koenig, with Executive Chef Donald Coffman — who rejoined in 2012 after working alongside Charlie Trotter and Roxanne Klein — setting culinary direction. The company is independently owned with no disclosed external investors, parent company, or institutional ownership, and reports 101–250 employees.

Name

Culinary Concepts Catering and Event Planning

Legal name

Culinary Concepts Catering and Event Planning

Website

https://cateringspecialist.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Culinary Concepts Catering and Event Planning is a privately held, full-service catering and event coordination company based in San Diego, serving corporate events, weddings, non-profit galas, private celebrations, and corporate delivery throughout San Diego County since around 1990.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Food Service Contractors (722310), Caterers (72232)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Business Event Catering (THAHAKAA), Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE), Wedding & Reception Catering (HSACAGAD)

Keywords

• Catering services
• Event catering
• Wedding catering
• Corporate catering
• Food delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Event Catering Services: Full-service catering for corporate events, weddings, conventions, and non-profit galas. Includes menu customization, on-site food preparation, service staff, and event coordination.
2. Food Delivery: Delivery catering service for corporate meetings and events throughout San Diego County. Includes breakfast, buffets, sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres, and beverages with 48-hour advance notice.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Full-service catering and event planning company based in San Diego, California, providing menu customization, on-site food preparation, professional service staff, vendor coordination, and venue selection assistance for corporate events, weddings, conventions, and non-profit galas. Also operates a delivery catering service for corporate meetings throughout San Diego County with breakfast, buffets, sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres, and beverages.

Product overview

Culinary Concepts Catering and Event Planning is a full-service catering company based in San Diego with nearly 30 years of history. The company provides a unified catering service offering that includes Conventions and Corporate Catering, Wedding Catering, Delivery Catering, and Non-Profit Event Catering. Their core service is supported by a comprehensive portfolio of menu offerings including breakfast, buffets, hors d'oeuvres, sandwiches, wraps, soups, and beverages. The company, led by Executive Chef Donald Coffman, specializes in locally sourced, sustainable ingredients with zero waste and solar-powered operations. Sample themed menus (Autumn Inspired, Land & Sea, Gastro Pub, Asian Inspired) showcase their culinary capabilities, and venue coordination services connect clients with 50+ San Diego venues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate and Conventions Catering Full-service catering for corporate events, conventions, conferences, and company holiday parties, including venue selection assistance, vendor coordination, menu design, on-site food preparation, and professional service staff.
• Wedding Catering Full-service wedding catering from engagement parties through the last dance, supporting couples and their families with menu customization, on-site food preparation, and coordinated event execution.
• Delivery Catering Food delivery catering service throughout San Diego County for staff and client meetings, featuring breakfast, buffets, hors d'oeuvres, sandwiches, wraps, soups, and beverages with setup and removal included. Requires 48-hour advance notice and a 10-guest minimum.
• Non-Profit Event Catering Catering for non-profit galas, fundraising events, and auction-package dinners, helping non-profit organizations raise funds and deliver results through live auction packages including hosted catering as VIP auction prizes.
• Venue Coordination Services Venue selection and coordination services providing clients with access to 50+ iconic San Diego venues including USS Midway, San Diego Air & Space Museum, Birch Aquarium, Orfila Vineyards, deck655, BRICK, Japanese Friendship Garden, and The Skybox at DiamondView.

Quantifiable outcome

• $50 donation funds four healthy meals and a decadent treat for first responders
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sensational TreatsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2020Partnered with Culinary Concepts and One San Diego to support first responders during COVID-19 crisis through providing great meals and sensational treats as a way of saying thank you.
• One San DiegominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2020Non-profit partner in COVID-19 first responder support campaign. Generously kickstarted the Go Fund Me campaign with a donation of $1,000 to support meal delivery to front-line responders.
• Jewish Family Service of San DiegominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2019Community partnership hosting dinner for Safe Parking lots serving homeless and underserved individuals. Chef Donald Coffman and culinary team prepared fresh hot meals for families and individuals working to transform their lives.
• USS Midway MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCulinary Concepts partners with USS Midway Museum to deliver unforgettable experiences rooted in sharing great food. They guide clients through the entire event process, providing creativity and experience to elevate important moments aboard the aircraft carrier museum venue.
• San Diego Air & Space MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver creative, fresh, and delicious foods at the museum's exceptional downtown San Diego setting. Art deco architecture, historic aircraft, and atrium under the stars create an unforgettable location for extraordinary events.
• deck655coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremier event venue in San Diego for hosting weddings, birthdays, anniversary parties, and company events. Features 8,500 square feet of contemporary indoor/outdoor space, capacity for 350 guests, and award-winning event team.
• Orfila Vineyards and WinerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 70 acres of sprawling vines and mountain views in San Pasqual Valley. Venue settings include Vineyard Courtyard (up to 300 guests), Grape Arbor (up to 100 guests), and Barrel Room (up to 60 guests).
• Japanese Friendship GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTucked away in Balboa Park, features lush trees, koi ponds, waterfalls, bonsai, cherry trees, and wisteria arbors. Upper Garden and Lower Garden venues with both indoor and outdoor ceremony/reception areas.
• BRICK VenuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier San Diego venue accommodating up to 220 seated guests. Features market lights that dim, 24-hour access, pet-friendly policy, and hot/cold all-weather capability.
• The Skybox at DiamondViewminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated on top floor of DiamondView East Village with breathtaking views of San Diego skyline, bay, Coronado, and direct views into Petco Park. 4,500 square feet with full culinary kitchen.
• Local Family-Owned FarmscoreOthersPartnership with local family-owned farms for sourcing ingredients. Additionally partners with sustainable proprietors of quality seafood and ethically raised meat products.
• Birch AquariumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPopular venue for corporate events and weddings with underwater views and unique aquarium setting.
• 50+ San Diego VenuescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor status with over 50 venues across San Diego County including 701B Street, Barrels & Branches, Comic-Con Museum, Darlington House, Embarcadero Marina, Milagro Winery, Museum of Contemporary Arts, Scripps Seaside Forum, and many more.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The French Gourmet: Long-established San Diego full-service caterer offering corporate, wedding, and event catering with on-site bakery and bistro. Closest head-to-head competitor in the same metro, with comparable venue relationships and customer segments.
• Pamplemousse Grille Catering & Events: San Diego-based fine-dining caterer for corporate events and weddings. Directly comparable on premium positioning, chef-driven menus, and San Diego venue network overlap.
• Coast Catering: Southern California full-service caterer serving corporate events, weddings, and private parties. Comparable business model — multi-vertical catering with venue coordination — competing for overlapping San Diego client base.
• A Fare Extraordinaire: San Diego event caterer specializing in corporate, wedding, and private events with venue partnerships across the county. Direct local competitor with similar service breadth and customer mix.

Broad incumbents

• Hotel del Coronado Catering: Iconic San Diego resort operating in-house catering for weddings, corporate events, and galas at its own venue. Represents the in-house vertical-integration risk and a major venue that competes for the same premium event spend.
• Wolfgang Puck Catering: National celebrity-chef-driven catering brand operating across major US markets including California. Comparable premium positioning and corporate-event focus, but at meaningfully larger scale with broader geographic reach.
• Levy Restaurants: Large-scale hospitality and event caterer serving sports venues, convention centers, and corporate events. Sets the competitive ceiling for scale and venue-based catering that a regional player like Culinary Concepts must defend against.
• Aramark: Global food services and facilities giant with sports, convention, and corporate-event catering operations. Comparable on contract food service for large events; large-scale competitor for enterprise and convention RFPs.

Emerging players

• ezCater: Tech-enabled corporate catering marketplace connecting businesses with local caterers for meetings and recurring delivery. Competes most directly with Culinary Concepts' delivery/breakfast/buffet business and represents a structural shift toward online procurement.
• True Food Kitchen Events / Catering: Restaurant-brand-driven caterer leveraging a sustainability and farm-to-table narrative similar to Culinary Concepts' positioning. Comparable on menu philosophy and target customer (corporate/wellness-minded clients), with a different brand-distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/culinaryconcept
• Facebookfacebook.com/culinary-concepts-catering-128526950499960
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/culinary-concepts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Culinary Concepts Catering and Event Planning