The simplest format for celebrating Christmas as a team

Not every company can block out an evening in December. Between holidays already booked, projects wrapping up and full diaries, the end-of-year party always leaves some people absent. The Christmas breakfast at the office solves that problem: one hour in the morning, everyone is there, and the day carries on normally afterwards.

It is also the most affordable format: from €8 per person excl. VAT with the Classique formula.

In short: a Christmas breakfast at the office takes place between 9 am and 10 am and costs from €8 per person excl. VAT with the Classique formula (pastries, juice, coffee, fruit), plus €29 excl. VAT for delivery in Paris and nearby towns. It is the most affordable end-of-year format.

  • Classique: from €8 per person excl. VAT; Complet: €12 to €16 per person excl. VAT.
  • Example for 20 people with the Classique formula: €160 excl. VAT plus €29 excl. VAT for delivery, i.e. €189 excl. VAT.
  • Festive additions: seasonal pastries, hot chocolate (1-litre thermos, €19.50 excl. VAT), a sweet piece to share.
  • Order until 2 pm the day before, delivery from 6:30 am Monday to Friday.

What sets a Christmas breakfast apart from a classic breakfast

Three elements are enough to make the difference. There is no need to do more.

  • Seasonal pastries, in addition to the usual croissants and pains au chocolat
  • Hot chocolate, which transforms a December breakfast. A 1-litre thermos of artisan hot chocolate (6 to 8 cups, €19.50 excl. VAT) can be added to the order.
  • A festive sweet piece: a Yule log to share, Pierre Morel macarons, or a box of Mado Paris madeleines to open on the table

The rest does not change: a basket of sliced fresh fruit, Alain Milliat juices, coffee. The basis of our breakfasts and breaks.

What budget for a Christmas breakfast?

It is the most affordable end-of-year format, well below a cocktail reception or a seated meal. The budget depends mainly on what you add to the base: a Christmas breakfast remains an enhanced breakfast, not a meal.

Benchmarks: the Classique formula starts at €8 per person excl. VAT (pastries, juice, coffee, fruit), the Complet formula ranges from €12 to €16 per person excl. VAT. For 20 people with the Classique formula: €160 excl. VAT plus €29 excl. VAT for delivery in Paris and nearby towns, i.e. €189 excl. VAT. The minimum order is €50 excl. VAT. Festive additions, such as the 1-litre thermos of hot chocolate at €19.50 excl. VAT, are costed on top depending on your choice. We detail the calculation method in our guide office breakfast budget.

What time should you hold it?

Between 9 am and 10 am. Earlier, part of the team has not arrived yet. Later, it eats into lunch and people do not eat. We deliver from 6:30 am, so the tray can be set out well before the first people arrive.

A piece of advice our clients often give: do not hold it on the last day before the holidays. That day, half the team has already left or is busy wrapping things up. The week of 8 to 15 December works much better.

Where to set it up in the office

Not in a closed meeting room: people do not go there. The best place is a through area where people can stand, a shared kitchen or open-plan space. The aim is for people to stop naturally, not to have to decide to go to an event.

Christmas breakfast or Christmas afternoon break?

The breakfast is for the teams, in the morning, without children. The Christmas afternoon break happens in the afternoon and, most often, at the works council (CSE) children's Christmas party with employees' children. These are not the same products or the same organisation: see our guide on the company children's Christmas party and the works council (CSE).

Dietary requirements

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are requested when ordering, with the numbers concerned. For a breakfast, the gluten-free version needs a little planning ahead; it is best to mention it at the quote stage.

Ordering your Christmas breakfast

Order before 2 pm the day before, delivery from 6:30 am in Paris and Île-de-France. For 50 people or more, or several sites, let us know at least 48 hours ahead. See also the corporate Christmas catering page. Request your quote, reply within 24 hours.

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

L'Écrin Traiteur prices, October 2026.

Frequently asked questions about the Christmas breakfast at the office

What time should you hold a Christmas breakfast at the office?

Between 9 am and 10 am. Earlier, part of the team has not arrived; later, it eats into lunch and people do not eat. We deliver from 6:30 am, so the tray can be set out before the first people arrive.

What makes a breakfast a "Christmas" breakfast?

Three additions are enough: seasonal pastries in addition to the usual croissants, hot chocolate, and a festive sweet piece such as a Yule log to share or macarons. The rest, fresh fruit, juice and coffee, does not change.

Which day in December should you choose?

The week of 8 to 15 December is the most effective: the team is complete, before people leave for the holidays. Avoid the last day before the holidays: part of the team has already left or is busy wrapping up their files. The breakfast is delivered Monday to Friday from 6:30 am, order until 2 pm the day before.

Is a Christmas breakfast cheaper than an evening party?

Considerably. A Classique formula starts at €8 per person excl. VAT, i.e. €189 excl. VAT for 20 people including €29 excl. VAT delivery. An 8-canapé cocktail reception at €29.90 per person excl. VAT comes to €627 excl. VAT for the same headcount, delivery included. The minimum order is €50 excl. VAT.

Where should you set up the breakfast in the office?

In a through area where people can stand, a shared kitchen or open-plan space, rather than in a closed meeting room where people do not go spontaneously. The aim is for the team to stop naturally, without having to decide to go to an event. The tray is delivered from 6:30 am: it can be set up before the first people arrive.