Corporate lunch trays: our advice for ordering well

A working meeting that runs over into lunch, a training day, a half-day seminar: the lunch tray is the most ordered format in Paris offices, because it is individual, tidy and needs no service logistics. But "easy to manage" does not mean "can be ordered at the last minute". Here is what to plan ahead to avoid an unpleasant surprise on the day.

Plan ahead for lead times

The golden rule: order before 2 pm the day before for delivery the next day from 6:30 am. For 50 people or more, or several sites, 48 hours' notice is recommended, so we can fine-tune the composition with you. For a same-morning request, call us: we do our best depending on availability that day.

What makes a good lunch tray

A complete tray brings together a starter (salad, verrine), a main course, a side, a dessert and a drink. What sets a real corporate lunch tray apart from a canteen meal is quality and freshness: seasonal ingredients, homemade preparations rather than repackaged industrial products. For lighter or on-the-go formats (a quick lunch, a short meeting), the lunch box is a relevant alternative; for a convivial lunch to share, consider our sharing formulas.

Quantities and drinks

One tray per guest, no exceptions: that is the advantage of the individual format. Always add one drink per person (water, pressed juice) and plan a few extra trays for last-minute guests, who are common at internal meetings. For a break in the middle of a meeting, a tray of sweet treats usefully completes the meal.

Handling diets and allergens

Before ordering, list your guests' diets: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, pork-free, halal, allergies. A serious caterer offers an identified alternative for each diet, and this information is passed on when ordering, never on the day of delivery. The allergen list must be available on request for every product: in France, it is a legal obligation.

Delivery: what to plan for

Make sure someone receives the delivery at the scheduled time and checks that the order is correct. Once delivered, a lunch tray should be eaten within two hours at room temperature, or kept between 0 and 4 °C until the meal. After delivery, no food product can be taken back or exchanged, which is why it matters to settle headcount and diets beforehand.

The right budget

At L'Écrin Traiteur, a lunch tray costs €28.90 per person excl. VAT for the vegetarian option, €29.90 excl. VAT with chicken and €30.90 excl. VAT with salmon, starter, main course, dessert and bread included, plus €29 excl. VAT for delivery in Paris and nearby towns. For a client lunch or a strategic event, the sharing menu (from €34.90 to €37.90 per person excl. VAT) or the cocktail reception (from €29.90 to €51.90 excl. VAT) takes over. The right benchmark: the price should reflect what you want the tray to say about your company.

Ordered well, a lunch tray is settled in a few minutes and leaves no room for surprises. Request your quote: reply within 24 hours, delivery in Paris and Île-de-France from 6:30 am, company invoicing.

Frequently asked questions