A La Carte Events & Catering

What A La Carte Events & Catering does

A La Carte Events & Catering (ALC) is a Houston-based, privately held full-service event production company founded in 2011 by Laura McAdams and Shannon McAdams. The company operates a single-source model that integrates custom culinary programs led by 2-time James Beard-nominated Culinary Director Chef Richard Knight, a vertically integrated in-house rental inventory (custom bars, fine china, glassware, linens, lounge furniture, and decor), venue sourcing and technical assessment, staffing, permitting, and design under a unified "One Vendor, One Invoice, Zero Hassle" delivery framework. Its technology backbone is not software but operational — a proprietary capital-intensive inventory and a rigorous site assessment process that covers load-in access, power capacity, kitchen facilities, AV infrastructure, parking, and permit compatibility.

ALC targets three primary customer segments: Fortune 500 corporations and multinationals requiring high-stakes event production (Shell, Siemens), experiential marketing agencies needing white-label Houston execution, and high-net-worth individuals planning weddings and social galas, with a secondary focus on non-profit fundraising events. Revenue is generated through per-event service contracts requiring a 50% non-refundable retainer at booking, with final menu selections due 14 days prior and final guest counts due 10 days before service; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company holds WBENC Woman-Owned and HUB certifications, is MPI-affiliated, and has positioned itself as a FIFA 2026 hospitality infrastructure partner near NRG Stadium for international delegations and brand activations.

Name

A La Carte Events & Catering

Legal name

A La Carte Events & Catering

Website

https://alchouston.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A La Carte Events & Catering is a Houston-based, privately held full-service event production company founded in 2011 that integrates custom culinary programs, an in-house rental inventory, venue sourcing, and staffing into a single-vendor delivery model for Fortune 500 corporations, experiential marketing agencies, and high-net-worth social-event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Event Catering Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate & Business Event Catering (THAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Catering (Weddings, Social, Private Parties) (THAFAIAB), Concession & Stadium / Arena Catering (THAFAIAG), Off-Premise / Mobile Event Catering (THAHAKAD), Gala, Fundraiser & Nonprofit Event Catering (THAHAKAF)

Keywords

• Corporate event catering
• Custom menu design
• Event production services
• Brand activation catering
• Wedding catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston, TX

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Full-Service Catering & Event Planning: Comprehensive event production services including custom menu design, culinary execution, event planning, design, and decor. Revenue generated through per-event service contracts with 50% non-refundable retainer at booking. Final menu selections due 14 days prior, final guest counts due 10 days before service.
2. Rental Equipment & Inventory: In-house rental inventory including custom bars, fine china, glassware, linens, furniture, and specialty items. Integrated with full-service packages or available as standalone rental services.
3. White-Label Catering Services: Branded culinary programs for agencies and producers executing experiential marketing campaigns. Supports brand activations and large-scale productions with custom menus and cocktail programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

A La Carte Events & Catering is a Houston-based, woman-owned catering and full-service event production company that designs custom menus, sources venues, supplies professional staffing, and provides in-house rental equipment for corporate and private events. The company serves enterprise clients (Shell, Siemens, Fortune 500 firms) as well as high-end social occasions such as weddings and brand activations, and has been selected to provide hospitality for FIFA 2026.

Product overview

A La Carte Events & Catering is a single-source full-service event production company offering a unified platform of catering and event planning services. The core offering combines Full-Service Event Planning & Design with Custom Culinary & Bar Programs under Chef Richard Knight's direction, supported by an extensive In-House Rental Inventory of bars, china, linens, and decor. The service portfolio spans Corporate Hospitality (board meetings, conferences, brand activations, large-scale productions), Weddings & Social Events, and specialized FIFA 2026 Hospitality services. Add-on capabilities include White-Label Catering for agencies, Global Dietary & Allergy Compliance, and Venue Sourcing & Management. The company differentiates through vertical integration—owning equipment rather than relying on third-party vendors—enabling a 'One Vendor, One Invoice' model for clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Event Catering Full-service catering for corporate events including galas, conferences, executive hospitality, and brand activations, delivered to enterprise clients such as Shell and Siemens.
• Custom Menu Design Bespoke menu creation tailored to each client's brand, event theme, dietary needs, and guest profile, led by a two-time James Beard-nominated Culinary Director.
• Wedding & Private Social Event Catering Full-service catering and event production for weddings, milestone celebrations, and private parties, with custom menus, rentals, staffing, and venue support.
• Brand Activation Catering Catering and hospitality support for brand activations, influencer events, and product launches, designed to align food and service with the activating brand's identity.
• Event Staffing Services Provision of professional front-of-house and back-of-house event staff, including servers, bartenders, chefs, and event captains, to support catered events.
• Venue Sourcing Assistance identifying and securing event venues in the Houston area and beyond, typically bundled with catering and production services.
• In-House Rental Equipment Rental of tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware, glassware, and other event essentials from the company's own inventory, eliminating the need for third-party rental vendors.
• Large-Scale Hospitality Catering (FIFA 2026) Catering and hospitality services for FIFA 2026, leveraging the firm's experience in executing large-scale, high-visibility corporate and brand events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000+ single event guest capacity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered preferred partner and core partner.

• The Falls Venuepreferred partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred catering partner at The Falls Venue in Houston, serving events up to 300 guests. Venue has expressed appreciation for ALC's food and service quality.
• NRG Stadium Area Venuescore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIFA Ready venue partner near NRG Stadium area, capable of hosting up to 5,000 guests. Key partner for 2026 World Cup hospitality activations.
• Silver Street Studiospreferred partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial event space venue used for large-scale activations. Hosted Anthony Bourdain Balvenie Rare Craft event for 1,800 guests.
• WBEAcore partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen's Business Enterprise Alliance partnership providing certification, networking, and procurement opportunities for woman-owned businesses.
• Modern Luxurypreferred partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury lifestyle media partnership providing marketing exposure and credibility within the Houston luxury market segment.
• The Scout Guidepreferred partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive curated directory of elite local vendors and service providers, providing referral network within Houston's luxury market.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Aramark: Global food services and facility management provider with significant event, sports, and hospitality catering operations. Comparable in food service contracting at large venues, but at corporate scale many orders of magnitude larger.
• Levy Restaurants: Hospitality and catering subsidiary of Compass Group operating stadium, arena, and large-venue catering across the U.S. Comparable in large-scale event and sports-venue catering (relevant to ALC's FIFA 2026 positioning), but vastly larger and more diversified.
• Restaurant Associates: Specialty food service and hospitality company providing catering and corporate hospitality at premium venues. Comparable in corporate hospitality and event catering positioning, but with broader national footprint.
• Sodexo Live!: Sodexo's event hospitality division delivering catering and event services at stadiums, arenas, and major venues. Comparable in large-scale event catering and stadium hospitality, but operates globally rather than Houston-only.
• Wolfgang Puck Catering: National premium event catering brand operating across major U.S. markets with celebrity-chef positioning. Comparable in premium corporate event catering and culinary leadership brand, but operates at significantly broader scale.

Direct peers

• Jackson & Company Catering: Houston full-service event catering company specializing in corporate events, weddings, and galas with in-house rentals and event design. Directly comparable in product offering and Houston market focus.
• Café Natalie Catering: Houston-based full-service catering and event production company serving corporate and social events. Directly comparable in market, service portfolio (catering, rentals, staffing), and Houston metro focus.
• Culinaire: Houston-area full-service catering and event company serving corporate, social, and large-scale events. Comparable in offering mix and regional market presence.
• City Kitchen Catering: Houston-based catering and event production firm offering custom menus, rentals, and design services for corporate and social clients. Comparable in scale, service mix, and Houston metro market.

Regional players

• Pine State Sports & Entertainment: Texas-based full-service event production and catering company serving corporate clients across the state. Comparable in event production and catering offering for Texas enterprise clients, though operating in different Texas metros.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-la-carte-events-and-catering

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 A La Carte Events & Catering