The Top 25 BIG Caterers of 2009

Are one of the top 25 BIG caterers of 2009 in a city near you? Special Events magazine named their 2nd annual picks in their May/June combination issue. If you didn't get a peek at their report of the biggest caterers in the business, take a look.

I'm proud to say that three of the biggest and the best on the list are places where I cut my teeth; learning the tricks of the trade to producing large parties (see asterisks****). I learned to produce large events (1000 +) by talented people like Bill Starbuck, Erick Weiss of Honeysweet Productions, Janine Miccuci, Laura Fewell, Eddie Cooper, and of course, founder and owner Mary Micucci, of Along Came Mary Productions in Los Angeles, California.

Producing large events just seems more normal... than catering for 150 people. When you're used to it, it's customary - you can practically cater big parties in your sleep.

If you've ever had an opportunity to work in the catering industry and you let it slip by, that probably wasn't a very good idea.

The list below is a testament to the truth that with hard work, a great team, and a great planning, in the catering industry - the sky's the limit!

1. A Legendary Event (www.alegendaryevent.com) - Atlanta, GA/Event Count Forecast; 1500/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $18M
2. Alison Price Co. (www.alisonprice.co.uk) - London, England/Event Count Forecast; 300/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $10M
   
3. Along Came Mary Productions (www.alongcamemary.com) - Los Angeles, CA****/Event Count Forecast; 125/Revenue Forecast; $10M
   
4. Baker's Best (www.bakersbestcatering.com) - Newton, MA/Event Count Forecast; 485/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $13M
   
5. Behind The Scenes (www.btscenes.com) - San Diego, CA/Event Count Forecast; 325 Plus/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $11M
   
6. Blue Plate (www.blueplatechicago.com) - Chicago, IL/Event Count Forecast; 6700 (incl. drop-off); $22M (catering only)
   
7. Broich Premium Catering (www.broich-catering.com) - Dusseldorf, Germany/Event Count Forecast;2500/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $18M
8. Catering By Michael's Family of Companies (www.cateringbymichaels.com) - Morton Grove, IL/Event Count Forecast; 1000 Full service (6000 Drop off)/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $15M
   
9. Create Food (www.createfood.co.uk) - London, England/Event Count Forecast; 450/Revenue Forecast; $14M
   
10. Creative Edge Parties (www.creativeedgeparties.com) - New York/Event Count Forecast; 1000/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $20M
    
11. Design Cuisine (www.designcuisine.com) - Arlington, VA /Event Count Forecast; 2500/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $20M
    
12. Eddie Deen (www.eddiedeen.com) - Dallas, TX/Event Count Forecast; 2900 to 3200/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $10M
    
13. Epicurean Culinary Group (www.epicureanculinarygroup.com) - Centennial, CO/Event Count Forecast; 900 to1100/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $15M
    
14. Global Gourmet Catering (www.ggcatering.com) - San Francisco, CA/Event Count Forecast; 200 to 250/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $15M
    
15. Global Infusion Group (www.globalinfusiongroup.com) - Watford, Hertfordshire, England/Event Count Forecast; 750 to 800/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $20M
    
16. Great Performances (www.greatperformances.com) - New York/Event Count Forecast; 1500/Revenue Forecast; $35M
    
17. Jewell Events Catering (www.jewelleventscatering.com) - Chicago, IL/Event Count Forecast; 3500/Revenue Forecast; $$20M Plus
    
18. McCall Associates (www.danmccall.com) - San Francisco, CA/Event Count Forecast; 650/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $20M
19. Mustard Catering (www.mustardcatering.com) - London, England/Event Count Forecast; 150 to 200/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $12M
    
20. Occasions Catering Ltd. (www.occasionscaterers.com) - Washington/Event Count Forecast; 4000 to 5000/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $29M
    
21. Patina Restaurant Group's Patina Catering (www.patinagroup.com/catering) - Los Angeles, CA****/Event Count Forecast; 7000 Plus/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $30M
    
22. Rhubarb Food Design Ltd. (www.rhubarb.net) - London, England/Event Count Forecast; 400/Revenue Forecast; $15.7M
23. Ridgewells (www.ridgewells.com) - Washington/Event Count Forecast; 20,000/Revenue Forecast; $29M
    
24. Windows Catering Co. (www.catering.com) - Alexandria, VA/Event Count Forecast; 14,5000/Revenue Forecast; Upward to $20M
    
25. Wolfgang Puck Catering (www.wolfgangpuck.com/catering) - Los Angeles, CA****/Event Count Forecast; 10,000/Revenue Forecast; $100M
    

For more information, log on to: Special Events magazine. All event count and projected revenue information is for 2009.

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