Guckenheimer Insights

There’s a lot more to enjoying a meal than just eating good food. If that was the case, every dining establishment would be takeout-only. In fact, all the many non-food aspects of dining can add up to create an experience that’s bigger than the sum of its parts — leaving you feeling not just well-fed, but more relaxed, mindful, and connected.

In an age where strong corporate culture is a powerful employee retention tool, the workplace cafeteria is undergoing a major facelift. No longer just a site of simple nourishment, cafeterias have been reimagined as spaces that can deliver serious ROI in the form of worker productivity and happiness. 

In fact, recent studies show that communal, well-designed cafeterias can reduce absenteeism, improve morale, and enhance team-building. They can become fantastic places to not only eat, but also to relax, socialize and collaborate. It’s quite possible that the next million-dollar idea may arise from a conversation over sandwiches and coffee.

Here’s how to turn your cafeteria from a snack bar into a versatile space that encourages productivity.

Digital technologies are becoming more deeply embedded in the fabric of our daily lives, including how we pay for our work meals in the corporate cafe. Long gone are the days when cash was king. Today, most cafes accept electronic payments like credit cards and mobile payments. Some are even choosing to go cashless, and analysts believe this trend will accelerate as tech solutions in business become the norm.

In today’s tight labor market, every organization is looking for ways to stand out. From flexible vacation policies to pet-friendly offices, company perks are an expected part of the workplace.

One of the best ways to attract (and keep) talent is by offering healthy and delicious dining options. Thoughtful touches like fresh squeezed juice, premium coffee, organic produce, and meal prep services are just a few of the options that employees are finding in their company cafe. One industry report says 48% of respondents would consider the snack options of a company when considering taking a new job.

Smart companies with modern employee dining programs are capitalizing on this by staying on top of the latest trends. Here’s what a modern employee dining program looks like, the latest trends to watch, and how to choose the right one for your company.

The food service business is, above all else, a people-driven business. Behind every delicious food item lies an effectively managed web of relations, running from the executive suite to the farm to the service floor. When these relations are fostered within a positive, rewarding company culture, the benefits are tangible.

Higher quality products are put on the catering table, and innovative dining services are offered to the public. One proven way of strengthening company culture is through events.

What Is a Company Event?

A company event can be defined as a gathering that is sponsored by a company for its employees, business partners, clients, and/or prospective clients. An event can be large and hosted at a convention hall; or it can be a small, intimate affair like a meeting or holiday party. An event can be serious and instructional, or laid-back and fun.

Other examples of company meetings include trade shows, retreats, incentive programs, sports events, company milestones, board meetings, and shareholder meetings.

When planning an event, it’s important to keep company goals and directives in mind. Ultimately, every company event should serve to improve productivity.

At Guckenheimer, we always like to think of a new year as a new beginning. Even if you're totally satisfied with the way things are going for your business, it's always valuable to stop and reassess things from a critical perspective. Only then will you be able to confirm whether you are truly headed in the right direction, or if you became a victim of complacency without realizing it.

This is especially true of your food service partner, which will directly impact the long-term success of your employee food programs. Even if you think you're satisfied with your current cafe, things might not be as straightforward as they appear. There are a few key warning signs in particular that you'll want to watch out for, as they can indicate that it may be time to rethink your corporate dining program on a larger scale than just swapping out menu items moving forward.

Everybody’s got to eat, and statistics show that today’s modern workforce spends about half of their waking hours at work. This means that potentially half of the meals they consume within a week are, or could be, provided by onsite dining services and other corporate food providers.

But with onsite convenience, comes the temptation to eat whatever is quick and tasty. Given that most workers keep a tight lunch break and only have a short amount of time available to make eating decisions, they need fast and convenient solutions to encourage optimal eating choices that empower them to maintain a healthy diet and encourage job satisfaction.

People are paying more attention to what they eat and making smarter food choices for themselves and their families. For some, that means reducing or eliminating animal protein from their diet.

It’s a conundrum that leaves corporate dining services that focus on providing healthy alternatives to companies with the need to shift their thinking. Learning to rethink their use of animal protein in favor of plant-based protein is the key. What are plant-based proteins?

It’s no secret that today’s business landscape is becoming increasingly socially aware. As a result, corporate philanthropy promoting the welfare of the community at large is becoming more commonplace. This new face of corporate philanthropy is more active, engaged and multi-faceted. 

Forward-thinking companies are shifting away from donations and ad hoc practices. They are embracing community engagement, a more sophisticated approach that aligns company goals with the needs of their community. One of the ways it is being fostered is through the innovation of corporate cafes.

Let’s take a deeper look into community engagement, its benefits for corporations and the community, and how corporate cafes tie it all together.

As healthcare costs rise, more and more companies are realizing that helping their employees stay healthy is good business, plain and simple. 

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, over 75% of a company’s health care costs and loss of productivity are connected to employees’ lifestyles. It’s not just obvious health care risks like smoking either. A major culprit in the ongoing healthcare challenges is inactivity for long periods of time – as you may have heard, sitting is the new smoking.