Engroff Catering

What Engroff Catering does

Engroff Catering is a privately held, family-owned catering company headquartered at 2127 SW Westport Dr., Topeka, Kansas, founded in 1981 by Jeff Engroff alongside his father and uncle. The company provides full-service catering across corporate events, weddings, funerals, social gatherings, and large public events, complemented by a growing portfolio of retail and seasonal meal products including family meals to go, boxed lunches, breakfast catering, hors d'oeuvres, and Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday packages. Service capability spans intimate gatherings of approximately 20 guests to events with thousands of attendees, with menu customization across tiered catering packages and the ability to accommodate ethnic cuisines and dietary restrictions. In July 2025, ownership transitioned to Joel Lewis (head chef since 2012) and Emily Lewis (returning after 15 years in life insurance, most recently as Associate VP at Advisors Excel), with the founder stepping back to focus on other ventures.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct enterprise sales with dedicated catering coordinators, online quote requests, phone and email ordering, and an active venue-partnership strategy that has secured preferred-caterer status at more than a dozen Topeka-area venues. Distribution channels include direct delivery to event venues and offices, customer pickup from the Topeka kitchen, on-site full-service execution, and a pickup partnership with JAAA's CHAMPSS senior meal program. Marketing relies on the company website, Facebook presence, an email newsletter, the Crafty Caterer blog, and participation in wedding expos and community festivals such as Country Stampede and Thunder Over the Heartland.

The revenue mix is diversified across professional-services event catering (corporate, wedding, funeral, social, pop-up restaurant) and one-time-purchase retail/seasonal meal products (family meals, boxed lunches, corporate meals to go, holiday packages, breakfast, hors d'oeuvres, CHAMPSS). Pricing is unit-based for retail items (e.g., family meals for four at $47.95, boxed lunches at $13.50, holiday meals starting at $100), while event catering is quote-based on tiered menu structure with market-driven protein upcharges. Underlying technology is traditional on-site food preparation and service with website-based online ordering and quote forms; there are no proprietary technology platforms, patents, AI capabilities, or integrations documented. Named enterprise customers include Security Benefit, Cyrus Hotel, Mars Corporation, Advisors Excel, Cotton O'Neil Cancer Center, Evergy, Bimbo Bakery, Hayden High School, Kansas State University, Kansas Department of Education, Country Stampede, and Heartland Motorsports Park.

Name

Engroff Catering

Legal name

Engroff Catering

Website

https://engroffcatering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Engroff Catering is a family-owned catering company in Topeka, Kansas, providing full-service event catering, wedding catering, and retail meal products to corporate clients, couples, and families across Northeast Kansas since 1981.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Food Service Contractors (722310), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Off-Premise / Mobile Event Catering (THAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE), Event Catering (Weddings, Social, Private Parties) (THAFAIAB), Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)

Keywords

• Event catering services
• Wedding catering
• Corporate catering
• Family meal delivery
• Holiday meal packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Topeka, Kansas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Event Catering Services: Full-service catering for corporate events, weddings, funerals, and social gatherings. Includes dedicated coordinators, custom menu planning, on-site setup and service, and cleanup. Tiered menu options from casual to premium protein selections.
2. Wedding Catering: Specialized wedding catering including tastings, custom menu creation, dedicated wedding coordinator, and full-service day-of execution. Can accommodate ethnic cuisines (Indian, BBQ) and dietary restrictions.
3. Family Meals to Go: Heat-and-serve family meals packaged in oven-safe containers. Options include Salisbury Steak, Roast Beef, Chicken Alfredo, Enchiladas, and more. Feeds 4 ($47.95) or 6-8 ($62.95). 3 Meal Bundles also available ($120.95/$165.95).
4. Boxed Lunches: Sandwich and salad boxed lunches at $13.50 each. Includes choice of sandwich/wrap, pasta/potato/fruit side, and cookies. Free delivery for orders of 10+.
5. Corporate Meals to Go: Catered meals for corporate teams, each serving 25 people. Menu includes Chicken Breast Parmesan, Fried Chicken, Pulled Pork sandwiches, and more.
6. Holiday Meal Packages: Thanksgiving and Christmas family meal packages. Thanksgiving feeds 6+ starting at $100-$120. Christmas meals similarly priced with Turkey or Ham options.
7. Breakfast Catering: Breakfast packages including protein, casserole/quiche/biscuit options, pastries, and fresh fruit. Also available a la carte including burritos, potatoes, and bagels.
8. Hors D'oeuvres and Appetizers: Catered appetizer packages including trays (veggie, fruit, meat & cheese), gourmet dips, mini sandwiches, and specialty hors d'oeuvres like shrimp cocktail and spanakopita.
9. CHAMPSS Meal Program: Reduced-price meal pick-up location for seniors 60+, disabled individuals, and caregivers through JAAA (Jhawkaaa) program.
10. Pop-Up Restaurant Catering: On-site breakfast burrito or lunch break pop-up restaurants for corporate offices. Free sampling available; optional for employer to cover employee meals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Engroff Catering provides full-service event catering for corporate functions, weddings, funerals, social gatherings, and large public events in the Topeka/Northeast Kansas area, with dedicated coordinators, custom menus, on-site setup, service, and cleanup. The company also sells retail-style Family Meals to Go, Boxed Lunches, Corporate Meals to Go, Breakfast packages, Hors D'oeuvres, and seasonal Thanksgiving and Christmas meal packages for direct consumer or office purchase. Its Main Catering Menu is structured in three tiers (Tier 1 casual, Tier 2 single protein, Tier 3 dual premium protein) and accommodates dietary restrictions and ethnic cuisines such as Indian and BBQ.

Product overview

Engroff Catering is a locally-owned catering company based in Topeka, KS, established in 1981. The company operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform-based architecture. Its core product portfolio centers on event catering services (Corporate Catering, Wedding Catering, Event Catering, and Funeral/Celebration of Life Catering) complemented by retail food products (Family Meals to Go, Boxed Lunches, Corporate Meals to Go, Breakfast Catering, and Hors D'oeuvres). Specialty offerings include Pop-Up Restaurant Catering for office environments and seasonal holiday meal packages (Thanksgiving and Christmas). The company also serves as a CHAMPSS meal pickup location in partnership with JAAA for seniors. Services range from intimate gatherings of 20 guests to events serving thousands, with menu customization through tiered catering packages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Crafty Caterer: A blog section featuring catering tips and advice from Engroff Catering for weddings, corporate events, and general catering guidance.

Products and services

• Corporate Catering Full-service catering for corporate employee events, meetings, training sessions, and appreciation functions, with grab-and-go or complete catered formats and flexible order sizing.
• Wedding Catering Wedding catering service for receptions, rehearsal dinners, and bridal showers featuring custom menu creation, tastings, and dedicated wedding coordinator support, accommodating ethnic cuisines and dietary restrictions.
• Event Catering Catering for social gatherings and celebrations such as anniversary parties, charity events, holiday parties, golf outings, and tailgates, with custom menus and dedicated coordinators for groups of varying size.
• Funeral Catering (Celebration of Life) Compassionate catering for funeral receptions, celebrations of life, and memorial gatherings, able to serve groups from 20 to several hundred guests.
• Pop-Up Catering On-site breakfast burrito and lunch break pop-up restaurants hosted at corporate offices, with free sampling and the option for the employer to cover employee meals.
• Family Meals to Go Heat-and-serve family meals packaged in oven-safe containers with options such as Salisbury Steak, Roast Beef, Chicken Alfredo, and Enchiladas, sized for families of 4 or 6-8, including 3 Meal Bundles.
• Boxed Lunches Pre-packaged lunches including a sandwich or wrap, pasta/potato/fruit side, and cookies priced at $13.50 per box, with free delivery on orders of 10 or more for offices or events.
• Breakfast Catering Breakfast packages including a protein choice, casserole/quiche/biscuit selection, pastries or cinnamon rolls, and fresh fruit, with a la carte options such as burritos, potatoes, and bagels.
• Hors D'oeuvres Catering Catered appetizer packages including veggie, fruit, and meat & cheese trays, gourmet dips, mini sandwiches, and specialty hors d'oeuvres such as coconut chicken bites, shrimp cocktail, and spanakopita.
• CHAMPSS Meal Program Reduced-price meal pickup program serving seniors 60+, disabled individuals, and caregivers/spouses, operated through a partnership with JAAA's CHAMPSS program using Engroff's Topeka kitchen as the pickup location.
• Corporate Meals to Go Bulk catered meals for corporate teams, each selection serving 25 people, with options such as Chicken Breast Parmesan, Fried Chicken, and Pulled Pork sandwiches.
• Thanksgiving Meals to Go Complete Thanksgiving dinner packages for 6+ people including carved turkey or ham, choice of three sides, dinner rolls, and pie, available for pickup or delivery.
• Christmas & Holiday Meals to Go Holiday dinner packages featuring carved ham or turkey with sides and pumpkin pie for family celebrations, available for pickup or delivery.
• Main Catering Menu (Tier 1, 2, 3) Tiered catering menu system: Tier 1 includes casual options like Taco Bar Deluxe, Lasagna, Alfredo Casserole, and Build-Your-Own Pasta/Potato Bars; Tier 2 adds a protein choice with salad, sides, and bread; Tier 3 expands to two premium proteins including seafood, chicken, pork, and beef.

Quantifiable outcome

• Winner of 2021 Best of The Best Topeka award for Best Catering Company
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• The BrownstonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred Caterer at The Brownstone wedding and event venue. Hosts The Wedding Experience vendor showcase events. Engroff works closely with venue to provide complete wedding catering packages.
• The Studio at The BrownstonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred Caterer at The Studio at The Brownstone event space.
• Topeka Zoo - Kay GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred Caterer at Topeka Zoo's Kay Gardens event space. Catered events for 200+ guests. Involved in zoo events like Steins and Vines.
• Clubhouse Inn SuitesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred Caterer at Clubhouse Inn Suites hotel venue.
• Hyatt Place TopekamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred Caterer at Hyatt Place Topeka hotel.
• TPAC (Topeka Performing Arts Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred Caterer at TPAC performing arts venue.
• Willows Bend Wedding & Event CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred Caterer at Willows Bend Wedding & Event Center.
• Flint Hills Discovery Center (Manhattan, KS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred Caterer at Flint Hills Discovery Center, extending service reach to Manhattan, KS area.
• Ward MeademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred Caterer at Ward Meade historic site venue.
• Kansas MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred Caterer at Kansas Museum venue.
• Kansas State Docking BuildingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred Caterer at Kansas State University Docking Building.
• Million Air - Topeka Regional AirportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred Caterer at Million Air Topeka Regional Airport venue.
• JAAA (Jhawkaaa) - CHAMPSS ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngroff serves as meal pickup location for JAAA's CHAMPSS (Community Help And Meal Programs for Senior Selections) reduced-price meal program for seniors 60+, disabled individuals, and caregivers/spouses. Orders placed Monday-Friday 8:00-4:00.
• Heartland Motorsports ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatering and concessions partner for Heartland Motorsports Park, handling catering and concessions at high level of professionalism for nearly 200 annual events. Owner Chris Payne reports Engroff helped overall success of facility.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sodexo: Sodexo provides corporate catering, event hospitality, and food service management to enterprises and universities. Comparable to Engroff for institutional and corporate catering bids, though at significantly larger scale across Kansas and beyond.
• Aramark: Aramark is a global food services and facilities provider that handles large-scale corporate, sports, and event catering. While it operates at a much larger scale and institutional level than Engroff, it competes for many of the same corporate and entertainment-venue catering contracts in Kansas.
• Panera Bread Catering: Panera Bread offers nationwide office and group catering with online ordering and delivery. It overlaps with Engroff's boxed lunches and corporate breakfast catering for smaller team orders where brand-name convenience outbids custom menus.
• Compass Group: Compass Group (including Chartwells and Levy) is a global contract foodservice leader serving corporate, sports, and event clients. It competes with Engroff for higher-end corporate and venue catering contracts at scale, particularly at hotels and large event venues.
• Chick-fil-A Catering: Chick-fil-A Catering is a national quick-service catering program (breakfast trays, nugget trays, boxed lunches). It competes with Engroff's boxed lunches and corporate breakfast catering for standardized, high-volume, brand-convenient office orders.
• ezCater: ezCater is the largest online catering marketplace in the U.S., connecting corporate buyers to local caterers. It competes indirectly with Engroff by aggregating demand for office catering and offering a national platform alternative to local direct caterers in markets like Topeka.

Emerging players

• Goldbelly: Goldbelly is a curated marketplace for specialty and regional foods shipped nationwide. It overlaps with Engroff's Family Meals to Go and holiday meal lines by addressing consumers who want restaurant-quality prepared meals delivered to their home for special occasions.
• Factor: Factor (formerly Factor 75) delivers chef-prepared heat-and-eat meals directly to consumers nationwide. It competes with Engroff's Family Meals to Go and Corporate Meals to Go lines by offering convenience-oriented prepared meals without the cooking step.

Regional players

• Heaven's Harvest Farm Catering: A New England-based farm-to-table catering company serving weddings and corporate events with locally sourced menus. Comparable to Engroff in business model (small team, full-service event catering, custom menus, weddings as a key segment), though operating in a different geography.

Direct peers

• Hy-Vee Catering: Hy-Vee is a Midwest grocery chain offering full-service catering for corporate events, weddings, and holidays across the same regional footprint as Engroff. Both compete for the same corporate and family event catering dollars with comparable menu structures, family-style offerings, and venue delivery models in the Midwest.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/engroff-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 Engroff Catering