Fig Catering & Drinks

What Fig Catering & Drinks does

FIG Catering & Drinks is a Chicago-based, founder-owned full-service catering company founded in 2005 by Molly Schemper and Justin Hall with $2,000 in initial capital. The company provides custom catering and bar services across three primary event segments — weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings — for clients in the Chicago metropolitan area, with operational willingness to dispatch teams 2+ hours outside the city. Service is modular, spanning cocktail parties with passed hors d'oeuvres, themed buffet stations, plated dinners, and a bar catering sub-brand (FIG Drinks) offering sustainably sourced wines, craft beers, and specialty cocktails. Pricing is quote-based with average wedding catering at approximately $130 per person for a 6-hour event including food, basic rentals, non-alcoholic beverages, and service staff; rentals are coordinated and passed through at no markup.

The company's core technical and operational capability is in-house food production: nearly all items, including breads, crackers, and ice cream, are made on-site, and the team executes fresh cooking even at venues without traditional kitchens using portable equipment, grills, and tents. This production model is anchored by a curated network of local organic and sustainable farm and supplier partners (Radical Root, Ellis Family Farm, Nichols Farm & Orchard, Slagel Family Farm, Gunthorp Farms, City Farm, River Valley Ranch, Mint Creek, Rushing Waters). The go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven: dedicated event managers guide clients through inquiry, proposal, tasting, and on-site coordination, supplemented by "FIG Presents" public events (cocktail classes with Chicago Prohibition Tours, holiday pie classes) that build community awareness. Distribution is direct via website inquiry forms, phone/email, and venue-partner referrals, with no e-commerce or online ordering.

Revenue mechanics are professional-services-based across catering services, FIG Drinks bar packages, and pass-through rentals. FIG targets three primary customer segments (wedding couples, corporate clients, social event hosts) plus secondary segments in non-profits and the design industry, differentiating on sustainability positioning codified through Green Seal GS-55 Approved Vendor status, Chicago Green Wedding Alliance membership, Slow Food Chicago Snail of Approval, and Next Bites affiliation. The team of 11-50 employees is led by owner Molly Schemper alongside a management team handling HR/operations (Meghan McCann), sustainability and marketing (Holly Gillis), beverage (Ryan Herendeen), corporate/non-profit events (Stephanie Lu Jokich), and wedding/special events (Ivy Colon, Laura Brister). FIG caters nearly 70 weddings annually and maintains over 100 five-star Yelp reviews; the company remains privately held with no external institutional investment.

Name

Fig Catering & Drinks

Legal name

FIG Catering

Website

https://figcatering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Caterers (72232)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Business Event Catering (THAHAKAA), Bar & Beverage Catering (Mobile Bar, Bartending) (HSACAGAF), Beverage Services (Bar Catering, Mixology, Beverage Programs) (THAHAKAJ)

Keywords

• Full-service catering
• Wedding catering
• Corporate event catering
• Bar catering services
• Sustainable event catering

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Catering Services: Full-service catering for weddings, corporate events, and social events. Includes food preparation, service staff, rentals coordination, and event management. Revenue is event-based with custom proposals.
2. FIG Drinks Bar Services: Bar catering division providing bar packages with sustainably sourced wines, craft beers, and spirits. Includes specialty cocktails, custom bitters, and cocktail classes.
3. Rental Coordination: Coordinates and passes through equipment rentals (tables, chairs, china, flatware, glassware) without markup. Rentals typically represent about one quarter of total catering budget.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fig Catering & Drinks provides full-service catering and bar services for weddings, corporate functions, and social gatherings in the Chicago metropolitan area. The company offers custom menus with in-house food production, on-site cooking (even at venues without kitchens), professional service staff, and rental coordination. It operates a bar catering sub-brand called FIG Drinks providing sustainably sourced wines, craft beers, and specialty cocktails.

Product overview

FIG Catering & Drinks is a full-service catering company offering personalized event catering For Intimate Gatherings. The core offering consists of wedding, corporate, and social event catering services with three service styles: cocktail party services (passed hors d'oeuvres and custom drink menus), buffet meal services (themed station meals), and plated meal services (restaurant-quality in-home or venue dining). FIG Drinks is the company's bar catering division providing full-service bar packages with sustainably sourced beverages. FIG Presents hosts public events including cocktail classes and pie-making workshops. The company also provides venue recommendations and rental coordination as complementary services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FIG Drinks: Bar catering division offering full service bar packages, sustainably sourced wines, craft beers, and specialty cocktails.

Products and services

• Wedding Catering Services Full-service wedding catering including custom menus, on-site cooking, rentals coordination, and professional service staff for intimate wedding celebrations of all sizes, with focus on personalization and every-last-detail service.
• Corporate Catering Services Catering for corporate events including galas, fundraisers, luncheons, conferences, and office parties with custom menus and every-last-detail service tailored for employee events, client entertainment, and corporate functions.
• Social Event Catering Services Catering for social events such as baby showers, dinner parties, birthday celebrations, and book club gatherings with full event support, on-site service, and cleanup.
• Cocktail Party Services Passed hors d'oeuvres and themed cocktail menu services for cocktail parties, wine tastings, champagne celebrations, and themed cocktail events.
• Buffet Meal Services Customized theme buffet and station meals including specialty themes such as Dim Sum Tea, Spring Farmer's Market Dinner, and Middle East in the Midwest.
• Plated Meal Services Restaurant-quality plated meals served at private events, in-home dinners, or venue settings with professional service staff.
• FIG Drinks Bar Catering Bar catering division offering full service bar packages with sustainably sourced wines, micro-brewed beers, craft spirits, custom cocktail creation, specialty cocktails, custom bitters, and cocktail classes.
• FIG Presents Public Events Public hosted events including speakeasy cocktail classes with Chicago Prohibition Tours and holiday pie-making classes with the Pastry Chef Emeritus, offered as ticketed public gatherings.
• Rental Coordination Equipment rental coordination including tables, chairs, china, flatware, glassware, and specialty vintage items, passed through without markup and typically representing about one quarter of total catering budget.
• Venue Recommendations Venue sourcing and recommendations across Chicago including classic/historic, artsy/eclectic, industrial/urban, and loft venue categories with established venue partner network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saves clients approximately 30 hours of event planning work
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chicago Green Wedding AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal member of the Chicago Green Wedding Alliance. FIG participates in sustainable wedding initiatives and eco-friendly catering practices as part of this alliance focused on reducing environmental impact of wedding events in Chicago.
• Next Bites (formerly Chicago Green Restaurant Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of Next Bites organization dedicated to sustainable food practices in the Chicago area. FIG contributes to education, eco-friendly business practices, and recycling programs as part of this partnership.
• Green SealcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIG is a Green Seal Approved Vendor meeting GS-55 standard for sustainable catering including sustainably sourced food, waste minimization, and conservation practices.
• Chicago Prohibition ToursminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIG Drinks partners with Chicago Prohibition Tours to host speakeasy cocktail classes exploring cocktail history, balance in cocktails, and hand-crafted ingredients. FIG hosts regular classes as part of this partnership.
• Radical Root Organic FarmcoreOthersOrganic farm supplier providing greens, herbs, vegetables, and tomatoes delivered to FIG's door. Part of FIG's sustainable sourcing network.
• Ellis Family FarmcoreOthersFarm supplier providing orchard fruits, berries, honey, and eggs as part of FIG's local sourcing for sustainable catering.
• Nichols Farm & OrchardcoreOthersSustainable farm providing fruits and vegetables grown near Chicago. Part of FIG's multi-farm sourcing network for seasonal menus.
• Slagel Family FarmcoreOthersFour-generation family farm providing beef and pork from humanely raised animals in Fairbury, IL.
• Gunthorp FarmcoreOthersPasture-raised chicken, duck, and pork supplier from LaGrange, IN. Known for high-quality, sustainably raised meat products.
• City FarmcoreOthersChicago-based urban farm delivering fresh produce directly to FIG. Part of the sustainable local sourcing network.
• River Valley RanchminorOthersMushroom supplier providing locally grown mushrooms for FIG's seasonal menus.
• Mint CreekminorOthersSustainable meat supplier from Stelle, IL providing lamb and other proteins.
• Rushing WatersminorOthersSustainable seafood supplier from Palmyra, WI, particularly known for fresh trout.
• Firehouse ChicagominorOthersHistoric firehouse venue in Edgewater recommended to clients. Fits 80 seated, 120 cocktail.
• The Library @ 190 S. LasalleminorOthersConference and event space in the Loop recommended to clients. Fits 140 seated, 200 cocktail.
• Pleasant HomeminorOthersHistoric Prairie-style home in Oak Park recommended for teas, brunches, and non-profit events.
• Salvage OneminorOthersSalvaged furniture warehouse in West Town popular for events. Fits 300 seated, 600 cocktail.
• Greenhouse LoftminorOthersLight-filled loft space in Logan Square recommended for intimate gatherings.
• OvationminorOthersParty venue in Fulton Market area. Fits 200 seated, 250 cocktail.
• Illinois CompostsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness composting program through which FIG participates in waste reduction and environmental sustainability efforts.
• Slow Food ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization through which FIG earned Snail of Approval recognition for sustainable food practices.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Entertaining Company: Chicago catering and event design firm serving weddings, corporate, and private events. Comparable full-service model with custom menus, bar services, and event production capabilities.
• Inspired Catering & Events: Chicago full-service caterer providing custom menus, bar service, and event coordination for weddings, corporate, and social events — directly overlapping with FIG's wedding and corporate focus.
• Paramount Events: Chicago-based catering and event production company serving weddings, corporate functions, and galas. Competes directly on full-service offerings and large-event execution in the Chicago market.
• Tasty Catering: Chicago-area corporate and social caterer with broad menu options, drop-off and full-service offerings. Directly competes in the corporate catering segment that is core to FIG's business.
• Blue Plate Catering & Events: Long-standing Chicago full-service caterer offering wedding, corporate, and social event catering with custom menus. Directly competes with FIG in the same Chicago metro market and event types.
• Food For Thought Catering: Chicago caterer providing full-service catering for corporate events, weddings, and social gatherings with an emphasis on custom menus and event execution — overlapping directly with FIG's service portfolio.
• Jewell Events Catering: Chicago-based caterer specializing in weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings with custom menus and bar services. Closely mirrors FIG's wedding/corporate/social mix in the same geography.
• The Hearty Boys: Chicago catering and events brand offering custom menus for weddings, corporate events, and private parties. Comparable boutique caterer positioning in the same metropolitan market.
• Beyond Catering: Chicago-based full-service caterer for corporate, wedding, and social events with bar services and event planning. Competes in the same downtown/Chicago metro segment.

Broad incumbents

• Zagat's-rated Chicago caterers (e.g., Catering by Michael's): Larger, well-established Chicago-area full-service caterer handling high-volume corporate and social events. Wider portfolio and broader menu offering than FIG, providing broader incumbent competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fig-catering

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Fig Catering & Drinks