People are happier when they’re fed, but being in charge of ordering meals can be stressful. Suddenly, what seems like a simple task becomes a whirlwind of balancing individual tastes, dietary preferences, and restrictions. Trying to please everyone from kale enthusiasts to carnivores is no easy feat, not to mention making sure you don’t trigger anyone’s food allergy. 

If the thought of sending endless messages or creating complicated spreadsheets just to complete a group’s order is enough to make your eyelids twitch, you’ll be glad to know there’s a better way. ezCater’s Group Ordering takes the stress out of selecting the right meals for those in your organization. It’s a simple, user-friendly system that allows each team member to select their own meals, so they always get exactly what they want. It’s a win-win that makes ordering for the group feel simple.

What is ezCater’s Group Food Ordering feature?

ezCater’s Group Ordering lets every group member choose their meal, so you don’t have to second-guess if you ordered the right thing. Here’s how it works: you choose the restaurant, set a per-person budget, and share the menu link with your group. Then, they enter their name and email, check out what’s available, and choose what they’re in the mood to eat.

This isn’t just for small team lunches, it scales up to large events too. Whether you’re ordering lunch for five or catering for a team of 50, Group Ordering eliminates the hassle and turns you into a catering hero. 

Say you’re an operations director or a team manager for college athletics. You’ve got a bus full of hungry athletes who need fuel for their next big game, and you’re on the move. With Group Ordering, feeding your team becomes one less thing to worry about. Just send a link and let them choose. Easy, right?

Or maybe you’re the office manager or the go-to person organizing a company event. When you’re planning those important meetings, the last thing you want to do is micromanage meals. Group Ordering can save the day, letting each attendee pick their meal ahead of time. This way, you can focus on nailing those event details without getting bogged down by catering orders. Group Ordering is all about making your life easier, no matter what type of crowd you’re feeding. 

Top 5 benefits of Group Ordering

ezCater’s Group Ordering feature makes feeding groups easier, more efficient, and more fun for everyone involved. Here’s a look at five ways Group Ordering is truly changing the game.

1. No more guesswork

Not sure if you’ve got vegans and vegetarians to feed? Worried that your favorite catering dish may not be everyone else’s cup of tea? With Group Ordering’s individual selection approach, each person selects their own meal, so you no longer need to figure out everyone’s food preferences and dietary restrictions. They get exactly what they want, and you avoid the hassle of checking in with each group member in advance.

2. Foolproof food distribution

Each meal arrives individually packed and labeled with the orderer’s name, so you can quickly distribute the correct meals. Say goodbye to confusion and mix-ups and hello to smooth and efficient meals.

3. Hands-on budgeting

You’re in full control of your budget. Just set a per-person spending limit, and the system takes care of the rest. If someone gets a little too excited and selects an item that’s over the limit, they’ll get a friendly nudge to make a different choice. Before the order is submitted, you’ll also have a chance to give it a final review.

4. Less food waste

When each person orders their own food, you won’t have to worry about guessing how many people will show up and how much they’ll eat — or over-ordering. Plus, attendees are more likely to eat a meal they’ve selected themselves, reducing food waste. 

5. Seamless ordering experience

Once they receive the link from ezCater, attendees simply enter their name and work email address. Then they’ll select their meal from the specified menu page. It’s intuitive and user-friendly.

Step-by-step guide to placing a group order

With ezCater, placing a group order is a simple process. Check out this step-by-step guide. 

Step 1. Log into your account

Click “sign in” to log into your ezCater account.

Step 2. Enter your delivery information

Enter the delivery address, date, event time, and headcount. Then, click on “find caterers” to see a list of available options in your area.

Step 3. Filter by individually packaged meals

Group Ordering only works for restaurants that offer individually packaged meals. Apply the “individually packaged meals” filter to your search results. This will remove caterers that do not offer Group Ordering.

Step 4. Select cuisine and confirm order minimum

There are a variety of cuisine filters available to help you get the food that will appeal to your group. Apply the “cuisine” filter to narrow down your search.

Step 5. Click the “start a group order” link

Once you’ve selected the perfect caterer, click the “Start a group order” link at the top of the menu page to begin the ordering process.

Step 6. Name the group event and set your per-person budget

Give your group meal a name and set a per-person budget limit to keep your costs under control.

Step 7. Share the order with the group

After you’ve provided the necessary information, you’ll receive a link to share with your event attendees. Send this link out to your group — text, email, or messaging app — so they can start placing their orders.

Step 8. Attendees start their orders

When attendees click on the link, they’ll be directed to ezCater.com. They’ll need to enter their name and work email address. Once signed in, they’ll see the specified menu page and their spending limit and can choose their preferred meal.

Step 9. Attendees will be notified of necessary changes

As attendees select menu items, they’ll be added to the overall order cart. If the items the attendee tries to select are above the individual budget per person, they will not be able to add them to the group cart until they change their selection.

Step 10. Review the group order

As the catering admin, you’ll be able to see all the selected items grouped by the name of the person who selected them. This allows you to review the order and make sure everything looks good before giving it the final okay.

Step 11. Finalize the order and check out

Once you’ve reviewed the group order and everything looks good, complete the checkout process. Then, sit back and relax, knowing ezCater will handle the rest. 

Best practices for successful group food ordering

Ready to master group food ordering? A few smart moves can make the whole process seamless and successful. Here’s how to nail your group orders without breaking a sweat. 

• Filter restaurant options: Be sure to select a restaurant that is optimized for Group Ordering by using the “Individual Packaging” search filter.
• Check item costs and order minimums: Check the order minimum for your chosen restaurant or caterer to make sure it aligns with your budget and event size. Keep in mind that some have higher minimums than others.
• Confirm availability of single-item orders: Verify the menu you selected allows single-item orders before sending the link to your group. Note that some restaurants with individual packaging have minimum order quantities.

Suitable menu item:

Not suitable for group ordering:

• Communicate submission deadlines: Clearly communicate a cut-off time for attendees to submit their menu selections based on your organization’s needs and also the selected restaurant’s cut-off times. This will give you plenty of time to review the order and make any necessary adjustments before finalizing and submitting it. Keep in mind, once your order is submitted, invited users will not be able to modify the cart. But you can still make changes, if needed, before the cut-off time.

Simplify Group Ordering with ezCater

Now that you know just how easy ordering for a group can be, it’s time to put ezCater’s Group Ordering feature to the test. Whether you’re planning an event, team meeting, or other meal for your organization, Group Ordering takes the hassle out of feeding a crowd.

Start a Group Order today and see how easy it is to please a crowd.