In short: a company Christmas meal in Paris and Île-de-France costs from €8 to €51.90 per person excl. VAT depending on the format, plus €29 excl. VAT for delivery in Paris and nearby towns. The format accounts for almost the entire budget.

  • Christmas breakfast: from €8 per person excl. VAT with the Classique formula, €12 to €16 excl. VAT with the Complet formula.
  • Festive lunch tray: €28.90 to €30.90 per person excl. VAT.
  • Dinner reception: €40.90 excl. VAT (12 canapés) or €51.90 excl. VAT (16 canapés) per person.
  • Example for 40 people with La Réception: €1,636 excl. VAT plus €29 excl. VAT for delivery, i.e. €1,665 excl. VAT, excluding drinks.

How much does a company Christmas meal cost?

The answer depends on a single choice: the format. Between a Christmas breakfast from €8 per person excl. VAT and a 16-canapé dinner reception at €51.90 excl. VAT, the gap exceeds €40 per person. Here are the real budgets per person, as we invoice them in Paris and Île-de-France, with no vague ranges.

The four formats and their budget per person

  • Christmas breakfast: the most affordable format, from €8 excl. VAT per person with the Classique formula, from €12 to €16 excl. VAT with the Complet formula. As festive additions, depending on your choice: seasonal pastries, flasks of hot chocolate, a sweet piece to share.
  • Festive lunch tray: from €28.90 to €30.90 excl. VAT per person depending on the menu, starter, main, dessert and bread included.
  • Dinner reception, 12 canapés: €40.90 excl. VAT per person. The format that replaces dinner.
  • Dinner reception, 16 canapés: €51.90 excl. VAT per person. For an evening of more than two hours.

On top of this comes delivery, €29 excl. VAT in Paris and nearby towns. Other areas of Île-de-France are priced in the quote. The minimum order is €50 excl. VAT.

Three costed examples

A team of 20 people, Christmas lunch with trays

20 Essentiel trays at €28.90 excl. VAT, i.e. €578 excl. VAT, plus €29 excl. VAT for delivery: €607 excl. VAT. It is the simplest format to budget: one tray equals one price.

A team of 40 people, dinner reception

40 people with the La Réception package at €40.90 excl. VAT, i.e. €1,636 excl. VAT, plus €29 excl. VAT for delivery: €1,665 excl. VAT, excluding drinks.

A team of 60 people, end-of-year party

60 people with the La Célébration package at €51.90 excl. VAT, i.e. €3,114 excl. VAT, plus delivery: €3,143 excl. VAT. This is the top of the range, for an evening that genuinely replaces dinner and lasts more than two hours.

The items people forget in the budget

This is where quotes go off track, rarely on the price per person.

  • Drinks, often invoiced separately by caterers. Check that they appear on the quote.
  • Ice, systematically forgotten at December parties in heated offices.
  • Reusable tableware: at L'Écrin Traiteur, collection of the equipment is charged at €19 excl. VAT on top of delivery.
  • Waiting staff, useful above 60 people.
  • The delivery area, often beyond the advertised flat rate as soon as you leave Paris and nearby towns.
  • The minimum order, which rises to €200 or €500 with some caterers. Ours is €50 excl. VAT.

Underestimating quantities costs more than planning them properly

The most tempting saving is to drop down a package. It is also the most visible: an empty buffet at 8:30 pm on an evening meant to last until 10 pm cancels out the whole benefit of the event. Our benchmark is constant: in the first hour, savoury canapés go about twice as fast as sweet ones. The full calculation is in our guide how many canapés per person.

What about end-of-year gifts?

They come under a different budget, often covered by the works council (CSE). We cover the subject separately in our guide gourmet corporate gifts for the end of the year: an individual gift box generally costs between €15 and €40 per person excl. VAT. Keep the two lines separate in your budget.

How to decide if the budget is tight

In the order in which we advise our clients:

  • Change the format before changing the quantity. A successful Christmas breakfast is better than an undersized reception.
  • Group your services together. Delivery is charged at €29 excl. VAT per order: several services on the same day in a single order reduce its weight.
  • Opt for an alcohol-free bar. Alain Milliat juices and 0% Chardonnay for a toast: cheaper, and no one is left out.
  • Keep the signature piece. That is what teams remember, not the total number of bites.

Getting a precise budget

The quote is based on headcount, date, format and delivery address, with company invoicing and VAT. Our entire menu is halal and pork-free by default, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options on request, with no hidden surcharge. See the corporate Christmas catering page. Request your quote, reply within 24 hours.

To compare all end-of-year formats and their prices, see the costed guide to end-of-year celebrations at work.

L'Écrin Traiteur prices, October 2026.

Frequently asked questions about the budget for a company Christmas meal

What budget per person for a company Christmas meal?

From €28.90 to €30.90 per person excl. VAT for a festive lunch tray, €40.90 excl. VAT for a 12-canapé dinner reception and €51.90 excl. VAT for 16 canapés. The Christmas breakfast starts at €8 per person excl. VAT. Add €29 excl. VAT for delivery in Paris and nearby towns.

How much does a Christmas meal for 40 people cost?

For a 12-canapé dinner reception at €40.90 per person excl. VAT, allow €1,636 excl. VAT plus €29 excl. VAT for delivery, i.e. about €1,665 excl. VAT, excluding drinks. With Essentiel lunch trays, allow about €1,185 excl. VAT including delivery.

Which costs are often forgotten in a Christmas budget?

Drinks, often invoiced separately, ice, reusable tableware (equipment collection at €19 excl. VAT at L'Écrin Traiteur), waiting staff above 60 people, and the delivery area as soon as you leave Paris and nearby towns.

Is there a minimum order for a Christmas meal?

Yes: the minimum order is €50 excl. VAT, with no minimum number of guests, plus €29 excl. VAT for delivery in Paris and nearby towns. Some caterers impose a minimum of €200 to €500: it is a point to check before comparing two quotes.

How can you reduce the budget without spoiling the evening?

Change the format rather than the quantity: a successful Christmas breakfast is better than an undersized reception. Opt for an alcohol-free bar with Alain Milliat juices, and group services on the same day into a single order, as delivery is charged at €29 excl. VAT per order. Keep the signature piece rather than increasing the total number of bites.