_{At ezCater, we want to help restaurants grow a successful catering business. Whether you’re in the early stages of building a business or an industry veteran, let us help you dip into the $61.5 billion catering market. In each episode of “The Catering Feed,” we talk to restaurant industry leaders of thriving brands who share insights and tactics to ramp up your catering business.}

As your restaurant wins more online catering business, your customer service experiences also move online. That makes it even more important for your staff to serve great hospitality with every face-to-face customer interaction. By investing in hospitality training for your employees, your brand has a better chance of improving your customers’ experiences and winning repeat business.

In this podcast episode, we learn how and why Chaz Patrick, the Director of Training at Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, prioritizes hospitality training for catering staff members. Chaz explains how you can help your employees develop a passion for your brand’s food, cross-train for a more efficient staff, and develop the signature hospitality touches that make your customers come back for more.

Episode Takeaways:

• Invest in employee training to create immediate ROI. A knowledgeable catering staff ensures return business and reduces employee turnover.
• Devote time to training your catering staff on how your food is made, so they develop a passion for the brand.
• Cross-train your front-of-house catering staff in hospitality to develop a more flexible and knowledgeable team.
• Develop signature hospitality touches, like check-ins prior to your catering delivery, to strengthen your customer relationships.

Chaz Patrick is the Director of Training at Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, where he manages operations and staff training. With more than a decade of experience in restaurant operations at California Pizza Kitchen, Chaz provides insights into team management, leadership, and catering.