CATERED TOO

What CATERED TOO does

Catered Too, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned catering and event design company founded in 1992 and headquartered in East Palo Alto, California. The company provides full-service catering for corporate events, weddings, social gatherings, and large-scale functions across the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, handling events ranging from intimate gatherings of 20 guests to events of up to 20,000 attendees. Service lines include Events & Parties Catering, Weddings Catering, Corporate Catering, and Smokehouse BBQ featuring a 1,400-pound hardwood smoker, complemented by two retail cafe locations serving consumers directly. The company maintains preferred-caterer relationships with 28+ Bay Area venues including the Computer History Museum, Fox Venues, San Francisco City Hall, and The Tech Museum, and operates from a 22,000-square-foot solar-powered production facility.

The business operates a consultation-based sales model where event coordinators work with clients to develop custom menus tailored to preferences, event type, guest count, and budget. Revenue is generated through per-event catering contracts (quote-based pricing), recurring cafe foot traffic, and specialty BBQ service engagements. Marketing channels span the company's BentoBox-powered website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Yelp, with bottom-of-funnel conversion driven by venue partner referrals. Leadership is anchored by Chef & CEO Eric Barnachea (40 years of Bay Area culinary experience, Culinary Institute of America CEIP alumnus), General Manager Karen Walters (formerly of Hewlett-Packard corporate events), and Controller Shelly Demko (35 years of Bay Area finance experience). Family succession is underway with three of the CEO's five children having joined the company.

Catered Too has no disclosed external funding, no institutional investors, and operates as a bootstrapped regional business. The company positions itself on creative menu development, flexible event scale, and deep community roots in East Palo Alto. Core competitive differentiators are its 30+ year brand history, specialized large-event production capacity, and an embedded venue partnership network that functions as a referral channel.

Name

CATERED TOO

Legal name

Catered Too, Inc.

Website

https://cateredtoo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Catered Too is a family-owned Bay Area catering and event design company founded in 1992, serving corporate events, weddings, and social gatherings from 20 to 20,000 guests, with two retail cafes and 28+ venue partnerships across Silicon Valley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Special Food Services (7223), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Catering (Weddings, Social, Private Parties) (THAFAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE), Corporate & Office Catering (THAFAIAA)

Keywords

• Corporate catering services
• Wedding catering services
• Event design services
• Smokehouse BBQ catering
• Cafe food service

Headquarters

HQ city

East Palo Alto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Catering Services: Full-service catering for corporate events, weddings, parties, and social gatherings. They create custom menus tailored to client preferences and handle events ranging from intimate dinners to large-scale events for up to 20,000 guests. Revenue is generated through per-event catering contracts with pricing based on guest count, menu selection, and service requirements.
2. Cafe Operations: Two premier cafes serving the Bay Area with high-quality food at fair prices. This is a retail food service operation providing ongoing revenue from walk-in customers.
3. Smokehouse BBQ Services: Summer barbecue catering featuring authentic smoked meats including chicken, ribs, brisket, fish, and hot links. Includes house-made sauces, sides, and desserts. They operate a hardwood smoker that can cook up to 1,400 pounds of food.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Catered Too is an industry-recognized catering and event design company serving the Bay Area and Silicon Valley since 1992. The company provides full-service catering for corporate events, weddings, social gatherings, and large-scale events ranging from 20 to 20,000 guests, complemented by two premier retail cafe locations in the Bay Area.

Product overview

Catered Too is a catering and event design company offering a unified service portfolio centered on food catering and event experiences. The company provides Events & Parties Catering, Weddings Catering, Corporate Catering, Smokehouse BBQ, and operates two Cafes, all supported by Event Design Services. Founded in 1992, the company serves the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, handling events ranging from intimate gatherings of 20 guests to large-scale events for up to 20,000 guests from their 22,000-square-foot solar-powered headquarters in East Palo Alto.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Events & Parties Catering
• Weddings Catering
• Corporate Catering
• Smokehouse BBQ
• Cafes
• Event Design Services

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered preferred.

• Computer History MuseumpreferredOthersSilicon Valley venue with award-winning architecture and flexible indoor/outdoor spaces. Catered Too is a preferred caterer at this venue.
• Club Auto SportpreferredOthersSan Jose venue offering multiple flexible spaces for corporate meetings, weddings, and private events. Catered Too provides catering services for events held here.
• Blanco UrbanpreferredOthersHistoric three-story, 5,500-square-foot blank canvas venue in San Jose ideal for weddings and corporate events. Catered Too partners for event catering.
• Hillsborough Racquet ClubpreferredOthersPrivate historical venue once an early 20th-century polo clubhouse, now used for elegant private events and weddings.
• San Jose City Hall RotundapreferredOthersModern architecture featuring glass walls and glass dome that maximizes natural lighting. Catered Too caters events at this distinctive venue.
• San Francisco City Hall EventspreferredOthersNorth Light Court and South Light Court offer flexible settings for social functions with upper levels for exclusive large events or intimate weddings.
• Montalvo Arts CenterpreferredOthersArts center engaging the public in the creative process. Catered Too provides catering for weddings and events at this venue.
• The Tech MuseumpreferredOthersSan Jose science and technology museum with three levels accommodating up to 2,500 guests. Catered Too is a preferred catering partner.
• Fox VenuespreferredOthersSilicon Valley venue management company with four rental venues ranging in capacity from 200 to over 8,000 guests. Catered Too works with this venue partner.
• Winchester Mystery HousepreferredOthersUnique historic landmark venue for milestone events and special occasions. Catered Too provides catering for distinctive events at this venue.
• Madame Tussauds San FranciscopreferredOthersSan Francisco attraction venue ideal for corporate events and networking functions. Catered Too provides catering services for private events.
• Happy Hollow Park & ZoopreferredOthersAZA-accredited zoo and park ideal for family-oriented events and celebrations. Catered Too partners for private rentals and events.
• Gamble GardenpreferredOthersBeautiful garden and historic home in Palo Alto perfect for intimate weddings and events for up to 50 guests.
• Devil's Canyon Brewing CompanypreferredOthersBrewery with over 7,000 square feet of flexible event space in San Jose. Catered Too partners for event catering.
• San Jose Woman's ClubpreferredOthersHistoric California landmark built in 1929, ideal for special events and weddings.
• Lucie Stern Community CenterpreferredOthersSpanish Mediterranean-style complex in Palo Alto with community theatre facilities.
• History Park San JosepreferredOthers14-acre outdoor gated facility with historic town setting, trolleys, and mature trees. Ideal for large outdoor events.
• Triton Museum of ArtpreferredOthersArt museum in Silicon Valley for sophisticated corporate events, weddings, and celebrations.
• Mitchell Park Community CenterpreferredOthersCommunity center with courtyard featuring California Coastal Valley Oak tree, perfect for weddings and events.
• Hiller Aviation MuseumpreferredOthersAviation museum with vintage and futuristic aircraft for themed parties and events.
• Oshman Family Jewish Community CenterpreferredOthersMulti-generational Jewish community center campus in South Palo Alto for events and gatherings.
• San Francisco War Memorial Green RoompreferredOthersRecently renovated room in the Veterans Building with Beaux-Arts architecture and modern amenities.
• The GlassHouse San JosepreferredOthersOne of the largest venue spaces in downtown San Jose with glamorous interiors and open-air patio.
• Starlite Banquets FacilitypreferredOthersBanquet facility in Willow Glen, San Jose serving the community for over 20 years.
• Rengstorff HousepreferredOthersHistoric home in Mountain View with period décor, brick patios, and manicured lawns near Shoreline Lake.
• The FosterpreferredOthersGallery space featuring Tony Foster's watercolor landscapes, partnering with non-profits for meetings and receptions.
• Historic Adobe BuildingpreferredOthersCalifornia Historical Landmark with rustic charm and Spanish architecture in Downtown Mountain View.
• Children's Discovery Museum of San JosepreferredOthersCommunity anchor museum offering spaces for diverse events and celebrations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sodexo: Global food services and facilities management company that operates corporate catering at scale. A broad incumbent competing for the same corporate catering wallet, though Sodexo typically operates on-site institutional accounts rather than off-premise premium events.
• Aramark: Large global food services provider with corporate, sports, and event catering. A broad incumbent competing for corporate event and venue catering contracts at national scale.

Regional players

• Wente Vineyards Catering & Events: Northern California winery-based event venue and catering operation serving weddings and corporate events. Regional competitor with venue + catering model anchored in Livermore Valley wine country.

Direct peers

• La Cuisine Catering: San Francisco-based off-premise catering company handling corporate and private events. Comparable full-service catering model targeting similar Bay Area clientele.
• Taste Catering & Event Production: San Francisco full-service caterer and event producer handling corporate events, weddings, and galas. Closely comparable service mix and Bay Area footprint to Catered Too.
• Neal Andrews Catering: Bay Area high-end off-premise caterer serving corporate and social events with custom menus. Comparable full-service event catering model in the same regional market.
• Sidebar Catering: Bay Area caterer offering corporate, wedding, and social event catering with custom menus. Direct regional peer in the same Northern California market.
• Paula LeDuc Fine Catering: Bay Area-based full-service fine catering and event design company serving corporate and private events. Most direct comparable: similar high-end positioning, custom menu development, and large-scale event execution in the same Northern California market.
• Cooking with Concepts: Bay Area full-service caterer serving corporate functions, weddings, and private events. Comparable service portfolio and Silicon Valley client base to Catered Too.
• Bentley's Catering: Bay Area full-service catering company serving corporate events, weddings, and private parties. Comparable service model and regional positioning to Catered Too.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CateredToo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catered-too
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecateredtoolife

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 CATERED TOO