The Lazy Gourmet

What The Lazy Gourmet does

The Lazy Gourmet is a Vancouver-based catering and full-service event planning company founded in 1979 by Susan Mendelson. It serves corporate, wedding, private, and gala clients across events ranging from 10-guest breakfast meetings to 10,000-guest daily programs, including marquee engagements such as the 2010 Olympic Games, LPGA CPKC Women's Open, and Lululemon SeaWheeze. The company offers end-to-end event services covering menu design, food preparation, venue coordination, rentals, bar service, and decor, with West Coast cuisine emphasizing local, organic, and seasonal ingredients.

The business operates a direct-to-client model with personal event planners handling quote-based inquiries within 1–2 business days, supported by a digital presence (website, social, email newsletter, blog, PR coverage) and exclusive venue partnerships at the Vancouver Art Gallery and Rocky Mountaineer Station. Product surface includes categorized menus (breakfast, lunch, dinner, appetizers, desserts, beverages) plus per-item retail pricing for grab-and-go and individual desserts. The company is Ocean Wise and Green Table Network certified for sustainability, and holds multiple industry awards including Canadian Event Industry Awards Best Caterer of the Year (2019) and repeated Georgia Straight Golden Plates wins.

In 2023, after 44 years of independent operation, The Lazy Gourmet was acquired by Compass Group Canada, the world's largest food service provider, gaining access to global procurement, logistics, and event networks while retaining its Vancouver brand and operations. The company employs 51–100 staff and operates from two Vancouver addresses (1605 West 5th Avenue and 1545 West 3rd Avenue). No app, API, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed in the available data.

Name

The Lazy Gourmet

Legal name

Lazy Gourmet

Website

https://lazygourmet.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Lazy Gourmet is a Vancouver-based catering and full-service event planning company, founded 1979 and acquired by Compass Group Canada in 2023, serving corporate, wedding, private, and gala clients with events from 10 to 10,000 guests across exclusive venues including the Vancouver Art Gallery and Rocky Mountaineer Station.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Catering Services: Full-service catering for corporate events, weddings, private parties, and galas. Revenue generated from food preparation, delivery, setup, and service staff. Pricing varies by guest count, menu selection, and service style (buffet vs plated).
2. Event Planning: End-to-end event planning services including venue selection assistance, decor coordination, rental management, and bar services. Often bundled with catering for comprehensive event packages.
3. Menu Items and Desserts: Individual menu item sales including cakes, desserts, appetizers, and specialty items. Direct per-item pricing for grab-and-go and retail-style orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Lazy Gourmet is a Vancouver-based catering and event planning company providing full-service food and beverage programs for events ranging from 10 to 10,000 guests daily. The company delivers West Coast cuisine with emphasis on local, organic, and seasonal ingredients, and offers end-to-end event services including venue selection, custom menu design, decor, rentals, and bar services for corporate events, weddings, galas, and private celebrations.

Product overview

The Lazy Gourmet is a catering and events company offering a comprehensive suite of food and beverage services. The core offerings include catering services for events of all sizes (10 to 10,000 guests), event planning, wedding services, and corporate catering. Their product portfolio encompasses multiple menu categories (breakfast, lunch, dinner, appetizers, desserts, beverages), beverage services with full bar options, and exclusive venue partnerships including the Vancouver Art Gallery and Rocky Mountaineer Station. The company operates as a single unified service brand rather than a platform with modular add-ons.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catering Services
• Event Planning
• Corporate Catering
• Wedding Services
• Beverage Services
• Vancouver Art Gallery Catering
• Rocky Mountaineer Station Catering

Quantifiable outcome

• Events ranging from 10 to 10,000 guests daily capacity
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rocky Mountaineer StationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Named exclusive caterer for Rocky Mountaineer Vancouver Station in January 2024. Provides catering services for events at this premium venue including the Compass Canada Party for 400 guests.
• Vancouver Art GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive caterer partnership at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Event spaces include the Forecourt, Grand Rotunda, Third Floor Rotunda, Rooftop Pavilion, and Heritage Courtrooms. Multiple event types hosted including weddings, corporate events, and galas.
• Gourmet Cuisine (Toronto)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization across Canada providing bespoke catering for weddings and corporate events. Since 1991, dedicated to exceptional catering with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
• Mercatino Fresh Food Co. (Calgary)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization dedicated to high-quality, freshly prepared meals made from locally sourced ingredients. Focus on convenience, flavour, and affordability for corporate offices, educational campuses, and healthcare facilities.
• Chefs Hall (Toronto)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue for lunch meetings, happy hours, and dinners featuring multiple local restaurateurs under one roof. Variety of food options including fried chicken, tacos, poke bowls, and smash burgers.
• Ocean WisecoreOthersCertified Ocean Wise partner choosing seafood options based on Vancouver Aquarium's sustainability recommendations. Supports Wild Salmon Supporters Network.
• Green Table NetworkcoreOthersApproved Green Table Member helping reduce energy and product consumption. Eliminates polystyrene and non-recyclable plastics, implements recycling programs, retrofits lighting to energy efficient technologies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Savoury Chef Catering: Metro Vancouver full-service catering company specializing in corporate events, weddings, and private functions. Competes head-to-head with The Lazy Gourmet in the same regional market with similar service offerings.
• Culinary Capers Catering + Event Design: Vancouver-based full-service catering and event design firm serving corporate events, weddings, and galas. Directly comparable to The Lazy Gourmet in service scope, customer segments, and Vancouver market focus.
• Daniel et Daniel Catering & Events: Toronto-based premium catering and event planning firm serving corporate galas, weddings, and private events. Comparable full-service offering and premium positioning, serving a different Canadian metropolitan market.
• Eat Catering: Vancouver catering company focused on corporate lunches, breakfasts, and small-to-medium events. Comparable regional peer with similar customer base but smaller event scale than The Lazy Gourmet.
• Gourmand Catering & Fine Foods: Established Vancouver catering company providing corporate and private event catering with similar West Coast cuisine positioning. Directly comparable in market geography, customer base, and service style.
• Toque & Corks Catering: Calgary-based full-service catering and event planning company serving corporate and private clients. Comparable business model and end-to-end event service offering, with regional differences in geography.

Broad incumbents

• Compass Group Canada: Parent company of The Lazy Gourmet and the world's largest food service provider, operating across contract food services, hospitality, and event catering at global marquee events. Comparable as the broader incumbent that owns the subject company.
• Sodexo Canada: Global food services and facilities management giant with significant Canadian event catering and corporate hospitality operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering similar services at scale across multiple verticals.
• Aramark Canada: Major contract food service provider serving sports venues, corporate cafeterias, and large-scale events across Canada. Comparable as a broad incumbent with event catering capabilities operating at scale.

Regional players

• Foremost Catering: Toronto-area full-service catering company serving corporate and private events. Comparable service model and end-to-end event offering, serving a different Canadian metropolitan geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thelazygourmet
• Facebookfacebook.com/lazygourmet
• Instagraminstagram.com/thelazygourmet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-lazy-gourmet

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The Lazy Gourmet