TGIS Catering Services

What TGIS Catering Services does

TGIS Catering Services, operating under the trade name 'Thank Goodness It's Sofia,' is a privately held, full-service catering and event planning company headquartered at 3247 E. Airport Way in Long Beach, California. Founded in 1989 by siblings Sofia Riley (President) and George Marinos (CEO), the company started in a 1,000-square-foot commercial kitchen and has grown into one of Southern California's established catering operators, employing 51-100 staff across culinary, event management, warehouse/logistics, sales, and administrative functions. Service delivery spans weddings, corporate events, and social/private gatherings across Long Beach, Orange County, and Los Angeles County.

The company combines four core service lines: premium catering with customizable gourmet menus, a top-tier bar and beverage program, interactive creative food stations (live pasta, ramen, taco bars, charcuterie, nitro ice cream), and end-to-end event planning covering decor, floral, entertainment coordination, AV, tenting, and production. It extends its footprint through proprietary venue management at The Betty Event Venue (Long Beach) and The Mayne Events Center (Bellflower), exclusive catering at the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA), and partnerships with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and The Centre in Lakewood. A specialized L'Chaim Kosher Catering sub-brand operates from a dedicated Glatt Kosher kitchen for Jewish religious events. Plant-forward menu capabilities, a Going Green Initiative (Certified Blue Business by Long Beach Water), and 2024 industry recognition (CATIE Award for Best Appetizer; ACE Awards for Best Catered Wedding, Best Catered Micro Event, and Product/Technological Innovation of the Year) round out the offering.

Revenue is generated on a project-based, quote-driven basis: each wedding, corporate event, or social gathering is custom-priced based on menu, service style, venue, bar service, and duration. The commercial model layers venue rental income from managed properties with exclusive in-house catering at partner venues, creating captive demand channels. Distribution is direct — through a sales-led motion via phone (562-492-9555), email, contact form, and venue-based referrals — with no third-party resellers or retail channels. Marketing combines an active blog and Instagram feed @tgiscatering with industry award publicity. Customer concentration sits across hundreds of one-off events per year rather than a small set of large enterprise contracts, with higher-margin anchor demand coming from venue partnerships and exclusive caterer relationships at premium Southern California cultural institutions.

Name

TGIS Catering Services

Legal name

TGIS Catering Services

Website

https://tgiscatering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

TGIS Catering Services is a Southern California full-service catering and event planning company founded in 1989 in Long Beach, serving weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings across Long Beach, Orange County, and Los Angeles. It operates proprietary venues, an exclusive caterer partnership at MOLAA, and a L'Chaim Glatt Kosher sub-brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Catering and Event Planning Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Caterers (72232)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Event catering services
• Wedding catering
• Corporate event catering
• Event planning services
• Kosher catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Catering & Event Services: Full-service catering for weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings. Services include premium catering, bar/beverage service, creative food stations, event planning, venue management, decor, and production. Primarily project-based event revenue with custom quotes per event.
2. Venue Management (The Betty & The Mayne): Management of proprietary event venues The Betty Event Venue (5761 E Colorado St, Long Beach) and The Mayne Events Center (16400 Bellflower Blvd, Bellflower). Revenue from venue rental combined with exclusive in-house catering.
3. L'Chaim Kosher Catering: Specialized Kosher-certified catering under L'Chaim brand, serving Glatt Kosher meals for Jewish events throughout Southern California.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TGIS Catering Services delivers full-service catering and event planning for weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings across Southern California. Offerings span premium plated and buffet catering, interactive food stations, professional bar/beverage service, full event production, and managed event venues. The company also runs specialty L'Chaim certified Glatt Kosher catering and provides venue management for The Betty and The Mayne.

Product overview

TGIS Catering Services is a catering and event planning company offering a unified portfolio of services centered around premium catering and event management. The core offering consists of Premium Catering (customizable gourmet menus), Top Bar Service (beverage and mixology), and Creative Food Stations (interactive culinary experiences). The company also manages and partners with event venues including The Betty (owned), The Mayne Event Center, The Centre, and the Museum of Latin American Art. Specialty services include L'Chaim Kosher Catering with certified Glatt Kosher kitchen facilities. Event types served include weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings, with full-service planning capabilities encompassing venue coordination, decor, entertainment, and production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• L'Chaim Kosher Catering: Certified Glatt Kosher catering service operated by TGIS Catering for Southern California.

Products and services

• Premium Catering Full-service premium catering for weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings, featuring gourmet cuisine with customizable menus using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Designed for clients seeking elevated, design-forward culinary experiences for their events.
• Top Bar Service Professional beverage and bar service including artisanal cocktails, premium wines, craft beers, and custom signature drinks for events. Targeted at weddings, corporate functions, and private celebrations requiring full bar service.
• Creative Food Stations Interactive culinary stations including live pasta, ramen, taco bars, charcuterie boards, nitro ice cream, and dessert bars for engaging event experiences. Targeted at event hosts seeking high-engagement, chef-driven dining experiences.
• Wedding Event Services Full-service wedding planning and catering including custom menus, floral coordination, entertainment, and venue design. Targeted at engaged couples across Southern California planning weddings and pre-wedding events.
• Corporate Event Services Professional catering for corporate gatherings including conferences, seminars, product launches, company picnics, retreats, and holiday parties. Targeted at businesses and organizations across Southern California.
• Social Event Services Catering for private celebrations including birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, and milestone events. Targeted at individuals and families hosting private social gatherings.
• Event Planning & Production Services Comprehensive event planning including venue selection, decor, entertainment, audio/visual, timeline management, and full-service execution. Targeted at clients needing end-to-end production beyond catering alone.
• L'Chaim Kosher Catering Certified Glatt Kosher catering service operating from a dedicated Kosher kitchen for Jewish religious events and observances. Targeted at Jewish families, synagogues, and event hosts requiring certified Glatt Kosher meals.
• The Betty Event Venue TGIS-managed Mediterranean-inspired event venue in Long Beach offering indoor and outdoor spaces for weddings and celebrations, paired with in-house catering. Targeted at couples and event hosts seeking a coastal, design-forward venue with integrated catering.
• The Mayne Events Center Versatile event center in Bellflower featuring elegant ballroom, chandeliers, and landscaped courtyard for weddings and events, with exclusive TGIS catering. Targeted at couples and event hosts seeking a high-end ballroom venue.
• The Centre Venue (Lakewood) Event venue in Lakewood offering elegant indoor and outdoor spaces suitable for various event types and sizes, with TGIS catering services. Targeted at couples and event hosts seeking versatile event space in the Lakewood area.

Quantifiable outcome

• Awarded CATIE Award for Best Appetizer for 'The Mosaic' salad — created with 900 slices shaved watermelon radish, 10 pounds pickled celery root, 1,300 Persian cucumbers for Natural History Museum Night of Wonder gala
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• International Caterers Association (ICA)minorOthersTGIS Catering is recognized by the International Caterers Association, winning multiple CATIE Awards (Catered Arts Through Innovative Excellence). ICA organizes the annual CATIE Awards that celebrate caterers pushing boundaries of flavor and design.
• ACE Awards (Achievement in Catering Excellence)minorOthersTGIS Catering has won multiple ACE Awards including Best Catered Wedding, Best Catered Micro Event, and Product or Technological Innovation of the Year. The ACE Awards are a major industry recognition program for catered events.
• Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) / Viva at MOLAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTGIS Catering is the exclusive caterer at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach. MOLAA offers 15,000 sq ft of sculptured garden and indoor galleries for events. TGIS manages all food, beverage, and event services for this venue.
• The Betty Event VenuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTGIS Catering manages The Betty Event Venue — a Mediterranean-inspired venue at 5761 E Colorado St, Long Beach, CA 90814. TGIS provides all in-house catering, event planning, and venue management services for this proprietary venue.
• The Mayne Events CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTGIS Catering manages The Mayne Events Center — an architectural masterpiece venue at 16400 Bellflower Blvd, Bellflower, CA 90706. Venue features a stunning ballroom with chandeliers, landscaped courtyard with water fountain and gazebo. TGIS provides exclusive catering and event services.
• Natural History Museum of Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured venue partner for large-scale gala events. TGIS Catering created the award-winning 'The Mosaic' appetizer for the museum's Night of Wonder annual gala. Also hosted a 260-person wedding at the museum.
• The Centre (Lakewood)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner at 5000 Clark Ave, Lakewood, CA 90712. TGIS provides catering services at this venue for weddings and events.
• Illumination FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partnership for micro events. TGIS Catering was recognized with an ACE Award for Best Catered Micro Event for their collaboration with the Illumination Foundation — a smaller, purpose-driven event with customized menus and personalized service.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Patina Catering (Patina Restaurant Group): LA-based restaurant and event catering group operating high-profile venue restaurants and large-scale event catering across Southern California, including cultural venues comparable to TGIS's MOLAA partnership.
• Wolfgang Puck Catering: National premium event catering brand with extensive corporate and large-venue experience; competes for high-end LA institutional and corporate catering contracts that overlap with TGIS's enterprise segment.

Others

• CaterTrax: Catering-specific ERP and online ordering software provider used by many catering operators; adjacent ecosystem enabler relevant to TGIS's digital planning and ordering infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Premiere Events Catering: Long Beach-area caterer specializing in weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings with venue partnerships across Southern California — directly overlapping with TGIS's core service lines and geography.
• Artisan Catering & Event Production: Southern California full-service caterer offering custom menus, bar service, and event design for weddings and corporate clients, comparable in scale and service breadth to TGIS.
• Sterling Catering & Events: Long-established Southern California off-premise caterer serving weddings, corporate, and social events with comparable venue partnerships and full-service event production — a direct competitor to TGIS in the LA/OC market.
• 24 Carrots Catering & Events: Southern California-based full-service wedding and corporate event caterer with comparable menu customization, bar service, and event production offerings in the same LA/Orange County market as TGIS.
• Bite Catering: LA-based full-service catering company for weddings, corporate, and social events with comparable custom menu design, bar service, and event planning capabilities targeting the same Southern California clientele.

Emerging players

• Fooda: Workplace and corporate catering platform partnering with restaurants to serve office events; represents an emerging technology-enabled model that competes for TGIS's corporate catering segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tgiscatering
• Instagraminstagram.com/tgiscatering
• Xx.com/tgiscatering

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 TGIS Catering Services