What Encore Catering does

Encore Catering is a family-owned catering and event-management company founded in 1979 and headquartered in North York, Ontario, legally registered as 1513563 Ontario Limited. The company provides full-service catering for corporate events, weddings, social gatherings, and hybrid/virtual events across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with an extension into Miami, Florida. Its service portfolio spans corporate meal programs, weddings (priced $50-$150 per person), plated dinners ($60-$100 per person), buffet menus ($25-$50 per person), cocktail receptions, food stations (30+ variants launched in 2023/2024), and specialty services including BBQ, Shiva meals, and seasonal Halloween catering. The company employs 101-250 people and operates as a privately held, bootstrapped firm with no institutional funding, no parent company, and no public listing.

Encore differentiates through a custom-built in-house software platform (with a public GitHub presence) that integrates online ordering, kitchen workflow, and delivery logistics with real-time departmental synchronization. Proprietary components include a Virtual Catering Application for individually packaged meals shipped to remote attendees, a centralized kitchen/logistics integration system, a delivery route optimization software aimed at on-time arrivals and reduced carbon footprint, and a QR code ordering system for on-site food stations. Stripe handles PCI-compliant payments (Level 1), and the platform supports a self-serve transactional channel called Shop Encore alongside the sales-led event business. Ancillary technical integrations include Google Analytics, Google AdWords, and Facebook Pixel for marketing measurement.

Revenue mechanics combine per-person and per-event pricing on full-service engagements (drop-off, buffet, plated, family-style, stations) with e-commerce one-time-purchase transactions through Shop Encore. Go-to-market is sales-led for enterprise and event business using custom proposals, complemented by direct-to-consumer online ordering. Customer segments span corporate/enterprise (primary), weddings, social/private events, and virtual/hybrid events. Ancillary fees include waitstaff and chef staffing ($35-$55/hr), distance-based delivery ($0-$500), temperature-controlled delivery surcharges, and venue-related charges. Marketing uses a content (blog/SEO), paid (Google Ads and Facebook Pixel remarketing), email, organic social (Instagram), and venue partnership mix targeting GTA enterprise and consumer buyers.

Name

Encore Catering

Legal name

1513563 ONTARIO LIMITED

Website

https://encorecatering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Family-owned Toronto-based catering and event-management company founded in 1979, serving corporate, wedding, social, and hybrid event clients across the GTA with full-service catering, proprietary virtual catering technology, and Shop Encore e-commerce ordering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (72232), Caterers (722320), Food Service Contractors (722310), Special Food Services (7223)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Business Event Catering (THAHAKAA), Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE), Gala, Fundraiser & Nonprofit Event Catering (THAHAKAF), Corporate Catering & Refreshment Services (HSACADAD)

Keywords

• Catering services
• Corporate catering
• Wedding catering
• Virtual event catering
• Event catering Toronto

Headquarters

HQ city

North York

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Full-Service Catering: Custom catering for weddings, corporate events, social gatherings with full-service including setup, staff, rentals, and cleanup. Revenue generated through per-person pricing plus additional fees for staffing, rentals, and venue landmark fees.
2. Shop Encore Online Ordering: Direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform for individually packaged meals, drop-off catering, and menu items available for order without custom proposals. Online ordering with delivery or curbside pickup.
3. Virtual and Hybrid Catering: Catering services for virtual events with meals delivered to individual locations, and hybrid events combining in-person and remote attendees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Encore Catering delivers full-service catering (food preparation, on-site chefs, serving staff, bartenders, rentals, setup, and cleanup) for corporate events, weddings, social gatherings, and virtual/hybrid events across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. The company supplements custom-quoted event catering with a self-serve Shop Encore e-commerce channel for individually packaged meals and drop-off catering. Proprietary in-house software integrates online ordering, kitchen workflow, and delivery logistics in real time, and a Virtual Catering Application enables automated meal selection and multi-location delivery for remote attendees.

Product overview

Encore Catering is a family-owned Toronto-based catering company established in 1979 offering a comprehensive suite of catering services. Their core offerings include Corporate Catering, Wedding Catering, Event Catering, Virtual Catering, and Hybrid Catering. They operate Shop Encore, an e-commerce platform for direct online ordering, and provide specialty services like BBQ Catering, Shiva Meals, and seasonal Halloween Catering. Their menu portfolio spans Breakfast & Brunch, Buffet, Plated Dinner, and Cocktail menus, plus interactive Food Stations launched in 2023. A key differentiator is their custom in-house software platform built by their own development team, which integrates online ordering, kitchen workflow, and delivery logistics with real-time synchronization across departments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Catering Professional catering services for corporate events, office lunches, meetings, daily meal programs, and large-scale corporate functions across Toronto and the GTA, including full-service setup, staff, and flexible menu options.
• Wedding Catering Full-service wedding catering for Toronto and the GTA including menu planning, food preparation, professional setup, on-site chefs, serving staff, bartenders, rentals, and cleanup, with menu customization and dietary accommodation (including kosher).
• Event Catering Professional catering for celebrations and social events including corporate galas, fundraisers, holiday parties, bar/bat mitzvahs, anniversaries, and special occasions across the GTA.
• Virtual Catering Catering service that delivers individually packaged meals to attendees at separate locations for virtual events, using a proprietary Virtual Catering Application for meal selection and multi-location coordination.
• Hybrid Catering Combines the Virtual Catering platform with corporate catering experience to deliver meals across multiple locations for hybrid events with both in-person and remote attendees.
• Daily Meal Programs Toronto Recurring daily catered meal programs for offices and workplaces across Toronto and the GTA, offering rotating menus to keep meal options fresh for employees.
• Shop Encore (Online Ordering) Self-serve e-commerce platform for direct online ordering of individually packaged meals, drop-off catering, and menu items without custom proposals, with online cart, delivery date selection, and online payment.
• BBQ Catering Barbecue-themed catering menu featuring burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, and exclusive options such as Fried Chicken Sammy and EC Mini Smash Burger for outdoor and indoor events.
• Shiva Meals Catering Catering service for the Jewish mourning tradition providing soups, salads, sides, mains, and desserts that can be ordered online and delivered in Toronto and the GTA.
• Halloween Catering Seasonal Halloween catering featuring spooky-themed treats including ghost cupcakes, Frankenstein marshmallows, Witch Cupcakes, Spooky Donuts, and Handmade Halloween Sugar Cookies for corporate and social events.
• Encore Miami Catering services offered in the Miami, Florida area through an affiliated operation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 650+ virtual events executed successfully with 40,000+ meals delivered to 15,000+ attendees
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GFL EnvironmentalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Weekly pickup of organic waste (food scraps and leftovers) from Encore's kitchen facility. GFL converts waste into high-quality compost, wood chips, and mulch as part of Encore's environmental stewardship program.
• SuppliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer menu items in reusable stainless-steel containers for corporate lunch events and social gatherings. Suppli containers eliminate wasteful packaging for environmentally conscious clients.
• Earth WaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian social enterprise providing spring water with refillable aluminum bottles. Every case sold provides a child with 1 week of school meals. Earth Water is available through Shop Encore online ordering.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing provider for all credit card transactions on the Encore Catering website. Stripe is PCI Service Provider Level 1 certified and handles all payment information securely without storing data on Encore's servers.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle provides advertising services including Google AdWords and Google Analytics for the Encore Catering website. Google remarketing advertises to previous site visitors.
• FacebookminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFacebook Pixel tracking for remarketing to previous visitors on Facebook and Instagram platforms. Part of digital marketing strategy to reach potential customers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Compass Group Canada: Global contract food service provider with significant Canadian operations across corporate, healthcare, education, and event catering. Competes with Encore in the corporate segment but at a much larger scale and broader service portfolio.
• Sodexo Canada: Global food service and facilities management company with a large Canadian presence in corporate dining, event catering, and institutional food service. Overlaps with Encore on corporate catering but operates at vastly larger scale and across many verticals beyond events.

Direct peers

• The Food Artist: Toronto-based caterer focused on corporate and private events with custom menus. Overlapping customer segments, similar service styles, and same regional market.
• Oliver & Bonacini Events: Premium Toronto/GTA event catering arm of the Oliver & Bonacini hospitality group; serves corporate galas, weddings, and large-scale social events. Comparable premium positioning and venue-driven go-to-market.
• Marigolds and Onions: Toronto full-service catering and event-production company for corporate and social events. Comparable to Encore on full-service staffing, rentals coordination, and premium GTA clientele.
• Toben Food by Design: Toronto-based creative catering company offering corporate, wedding, and social event catering. Comparable to Encore in target customers, premium positioning, and a parallel in-house culinary and logistics operation.
• Daniel et Daniel: Long-established Toronto full-service caterer specializing in corporate, wedding, and social events with on-site staff and custom menus. Directly comparable to Encore on geography, service mix (full-service + drop-off), and premium positioning.
• McEwan Catering: Premium Toronto caterer led by chef Mark McEwan serving high-end corporate and wedding events. Comparable in premium tier, full-service execution, and downtown Toronto clientele.
• Food Dudes: Toronto caterer serving corporate lunches, events, and weddings with an emphasis on chef-driven menus. Same customer base and service lines as Encore; comparable scale and pricing tier.
• Eatertainment Events & Catering: Toronto full-service caterer and event producer for corporate and social occasions. Overlapping service model, similar scale, and same GTA market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/encorecatering
• Xx.com/encore_catering
• Facebookfacebook.com/EncoreFood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/encore-catering

Compliance1 record

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 Encore Catering