Office Lunch Delivery vs Corporate Catering: Which Fits Your London Team?
Office Lunch Delivery vs Corporate Catering: Which Fits Your London Team?
Introduction: The “What’s for Lunch?” Dilemma
London offices juggle hybrid schedules, admin tasks, and rising employee expectations. Food is no longer just fuel: it’s a perk, a way to build culture, and a tool for boosting attendance. The real question: Should you choose daily office lunch delivery or corporate catering?
This guide explains:
- When office lunch delivery (like Cloud Canteen) works best
- When corporate catering delivers more value
- Costs, logistics, and decision factors
- How the two options can complement each other
Related: Employee Meal Programs in London (2025 Guide)
When Office Lunch Delivery Works Best
Hybrid anchor days
Concentrating meals on Tuesday to Thursday reliably boosts office attendance without committing to five days.
Routine & wellbeing
A five-day cadence for fully on-site teams reduces decision fatigue and supports consistent wellbeing.
Admin-light setup
Pre-orders, individually labelled meals, and flexible subsidies make management simple for HR and office managers.
Flexible scaling
From 20 to 500 employees—delivery can scale easily. Subsidies can be flat, tiered by day, or wallet-based.
Case Example: A 50-person fintech team using Cloud Canteen on Tue–Thu saw attendance rise by 18% on lunch days.
When Corporate Catering Wins
Events and large meetings
Perfect for board sessions, all-hands, offsites, and product launches.
Buffets and finger food
Shared meals encourage mingling and cross-team conversations.
Occasional perks
Great for monthly spreads or seasonal events like Christmas parties, Diwali, or summer socials.
Case Example: A 150-person London law firm orders buffets monthly. Result: higher morale and engagement during all-hands, with no daily admin.
Decision Framework
Ask yourself:
- Do you want routine engagement? → Choose lunch delivery
- Do you want special moments? → Choose catering
- What’s your subsidy budget?
- Is your goal to increase hybrid attendance or to celebrate milestones?
Conclusion: The Best of Both Worlds
It’s not either/or. Lunch delivery supports day-to-day attendance and wellbeing, while corporate catering creates special cultural moments.
Next step: Explore Cloud Canteen for daily meals or Corporate Catering London for events.
