Chances are, you’re more than just familiar with Relish by ezCater — you’re probably a big fan. You enjoy tucking into a free lunch without leaving the office, appreciate getting to try new restaurants weekly, and love picking your own meals.

It’s not just you: 99% of surveyed customers say ezCater is their go-to workplace food solution. Maybe it’s time for it to become yours, too.

So, how do you convince your company’s decision makers that embracing Relish can also benefit them? Crafting a winning proposal can be intimidating, but this blog post is here to help. Here are a few tips to help you pitch the recurring employee meal program to the powers that be.

Schedule a meeting with decision makers 

First, get a sit-down meeting with decision makers on the books. While delivering your pitch in person might seem nerve-wracking, you’re much more likely to succeed. In fact, research shows that face-to-face requests are 34 times more effective than emailed ones, even among strangers, so the odds are in your favor.

Start your pitch with the basics of Relish 

Once the meeting is scheduled, you can start preparing your pitch. Before getting into why Relish is such a popular perk in modern workplaces, be sure to cover the basics. If your boss has never heard of Relish before, they’ll need a brief introduction.

For example, you could explain that Relish is a customizable meal program. It allows employees to order individually packaged and labeled meals from a rotating list of local restaurants, using the Relish app or website. And while workers take charge of what will be on their plates, employers remain in control of the schedule and per-person subsidy.

Highlight the benefits of Relish (and serve up the data) 

Now that your boss understands what Relish is and how it works, it’s time to get persuasive. Why should they bring these recurring employee meals into the workplace?

To sell your vision, be as specific as you can (and provide examples!). Showcase how each team and department will benefit — and have the data ready to back up your claims.

Experience professionals can improve workplace culture

Lunch has a big impact on employees’ wellbeing. According to new survey data, workers report being happier (51%) and less burnt out (49%) when they take a break to fuel up in the middle of the day. What’s more, nearly 90% say they feel appreciated when their employer provides free food.

All these positive feelings foster a more positive work environment, which boosts employee performance and commitment. Experienced professionals know this recipe for success well, and they work hard to implement it. It’s not always easy, but Relish can help. How? Let’s look at an example.

Picture a small company in the middle of busy season. Maybe a long-anticipated project is finally about to launch, or they’re weeks deep into a period of working long hours to make a deadline. They’re grinding it out, and they may be tired and in need of a morale boost.

Enter Relish. With the help of Relish, experienced professionals can encourage workers to take a much-needed lunch break. As employees choose meals they’re excited to eat, the mood shifts. Now, lunch is something everyone looks forward to. Workers come into the office with more energy, bond with colleagues over food, and feel more mental clarity as the day progresses.

Human Resources gets a powerful hiring and retention tool

When employees are happy and well-fed, they’re more likely to stay at their job. This is great news for Human Resources professionals, who won’t have to worry about replacing workers in our hot labor market. At a time when the average cost-per-hire can range from $4,683 and $28,329, reducing turnover is more important than ever.

Want to show decision makers that Relish is a good investment? Let’s crunch the numbers. Say your company decides to offer employees a $12 stipend twice per week. It’s enough to make them feel appreciated, yet it would only cost the company $1,248 — or about a fourth of what it would cost to find their replacement, at the low end.

Relish helps HR departments attract talent, too. Because free and subsidized meals are a top perk for employees, mentioning Relish in job listings will get applicants’ attention. Half of workers even say these free food perks would make them more likely to accept a job offer. 

Leadership teams meet attendance goals

Recruiting (and retaining) team members is important, but getting them to commute to work is another challenge altogether. Just ask your leadership team. Chances are, they’ve also struggled with on-site attendance.

Relish could be the solution. Today, 86% of business leaders agree that providing free meals encourages employees to come into the office.

If your company’s leadership team plans to increase in-office days for employees in the future, Relish could help them meet those attendance goals. The promise of a delicious meal from a popular restaurant — or from a local hidden gem employees have been eager to try — may be enough to earn the commute. No mandates necessary.  

Food orderers save precious time

Employees may be thrilled to dig into company-provided lunches. But there’s a chance food orderers aren’t looking forward to sourcing them. From corporate cafeterias to ordering catering directly from vendors, the logistics of workplace food solutions haven’t always been simple.

Relish is different, and food orderers save significant time and energy. That’s because Relish solves two big problems for orderers: selecting varied food everyone will like and finding options that meet specific dietary needs.

For starters, employees choose exactly what they want to eat from an ever-changing list of local restaurants. Food orderers don’t intervene. Workers might choose a traditional beef lasagna on Monday and a spicy poke bowl on Wednesday.

Second, it’s employees with food allergies or dietary restrictions who hand-pick safe meals. They know their special needs the best, so they can feel confident in their selections. Because all meals are individually packaged and labeled with the recipient’s name, vegetarians can enjoy a black bean meatball sub while everyone else digs into meat-filled sandwiches. 

Operations professionals have less on their plate

Relish makes things easier for operations professionals, too. With Relish, meals are delivered all at the same time in convenient individual packaging. All operations professionals have to do is accept the food delivery and set up a lunch pick-up station — on a long table, perhaps.

Besides saving time (and brain power), Relish can also save companies wasted food. Since employees order for themselves, you’re not left guesstimating how many you need to feed, with trays of wasted food left over. Less waste is good for the environment and for the company’s bottom line.

Welcome feedback and address concerns

You’re almost at the end of your pitch, but before you breathe that sigh of relief, remember that key decision-makers will likely have questions. Fortunately, ezCater might already have the answers. Here’s a look at potential rebuttals, along with thoughtful responses to leadership concerns. 

Relish is a cost-effective workplace food solution

With constant talks about inflation and rising costs, decision-makers may be concerned about the cost of the employee meal program. Your answer? Relish can flex to meet any company’s budget. 

Employers have full control of their per-person subsidy and schedule. They might offer a $10 subsidy every day, or a $15 subsidy once per week. Or, they may choose to not subsize at all. Decision makers have the final say.

Relish fits seamlessly into hybrid work schedules

If your company belongs to the one-third of businesses that have settled into hybrid work schedules, decision-makers may worry that recurring employee meals will clash with fluctuating head counts. 

They won’t. Because Relish provides one meal per person, fluctuating head counts are never an issue. Whether the office is full or half-empty, Relish flexes up and down to meet your company’s needs.

Leaders get full visibility and control

Though flexibility is typically a good thing, decision-makers may be concerned they will lose control over the meal program. It’s a valid concern, but they don’t have to worry. 

With Relish, employers can view everything from past meals to expense reports on their account dashboard. What’s more, by setting a per-person subsidy, employers can rest assured workers won’t go over the spending limits.

Help decision-makers Relish the future of food ordering 

A customizable meal program like Relish is a win-win for everyone at your company, leadership and management teams included. You know this — now you just need to convince decision-makers, too.

These tips should help you focus your pitch on how Relish by ezCater enhances workplace culture, supports employee retention and acquisition, boosts attendance, and powers a more productive workforce. All without exhausting food orderers or operation professionals.

Want more details to refine your pitch deck? Learn more about Relish today.