contract caterer

Meaning

1. 1nouncountable

   A catering company hired by an organization to provide meals on its premises under a long-term contract.

   Grammar: Countable; use 'a contract caterer' or 'contract caterers' when talking about one or more such companies.

   Patterns

   • work for a contract caterer
   • hire a contract caterer
   • a contract caterer for something

   The hospital no longer runs its own kitchen; a contract caterer serves all the patients' meals.

   She got a job as a chef with a contract caterer that supplies school lunches.

   The company signed a three-year deal with a contract caterer to feed its 500 employees.

Word forms

Common combinations

work for a contract caterer

Many chefs start out working for a contract caterer before opening their own restaurant.

a contract caterer supplies something

A contract caterer supplies breakfast and lunch to the office every weekday.

hire a contract caterer

The university decided to hire a contract caterer to cut costs.

a contract caterer for events

They used a contract caterer for events at the conference center.

Synonyms and how they differ

catering company

A more general term that can refer to any business providing food for events, whether or not it has a long-term contract.

food service provider

A broader, more formal term often used in business writing; it includes companies that supply food but may not cook on-site.

Word family

cater verb

To provide food and drinks for an event or group.

catering noun

The business or activity of providing food for events.

caterer noun

A person or company that provides food for events.

Commonly confused: contract caterer or caterer?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “contract caterer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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