How much lead time do I need for a bulk order?

For 10–20 people, 90 minutes is usually sufficient. For 50–100 people, order 24–48 hours ahead. For 150+, 3–5 working days helps the restaurant prepare properly.

How do I handle dietary requirements?

Survey the team first. Aim for 40% meat, 25% chicken, 20% vegetarian, 15% vegan as a typical distribution, with halal and gluten-free flagged. Use platforms that let each person customise.

Can I get VAT invoices for office expense claims?

Yes. GeraEats Business issues VAT-compliant invoices on every order with company details you configure once. Claim back VAT on corporate expense (UK, EU).

Is there a corporate account?

Yes. GeraEats Business allows per-employee budget limits, central billing, and automated expense reporting.

Bulk Food Ordering for Offices: A 2026 Guide

Ordering lunch for a team of 10–200 people is a logistical exercise, not a takeaway decision. Lead time, dietary coverage, temperature management, VAT-compliant invoicing, and per-head budget control all matter. Done well, team lunches are a high-leverage morale tool. Done badly, they are an expensive source of complaint. This guide walks through how to do it well.

How much lead time do I need?

10–20 people: 60–90 minutes on most platforms
20–50 people: 2–3 hours or next-day
50–100 people: 24–48 hours
100–200 people: 3–5 working days
200+: typically corporate catering, not app-based delivery — direct with the restaurant

How do I cover dietary requirements?

Survey the team once a quarter. Typical distribution for a UK office:

30–40% meat-eaters (often "no restrictions")
20–25% chicken-only
15–20% vegetarian
8–15% vegan
5–15% halal (important in London and large cities)
5–10% gluten-free
Occasional: kosher, dairy-free, nut allergy, pescatarian

Cuisines that naturally span dietary restrictions well: Middle Eastern (falafel, hummus, kebab), Indian (vegetarian-heavy), Mediterranean salads, poke bowls. Cuisines that struggle: traditional BBQ, continental European without specific vegan options.

Group-order or individual-order?

Group-order: one person assembles a combined basket. Simpler delivery, cheaper per head, less choice per person.
Individual-order (each picks): everyone chooses, budget cap per head, combined invoice. More popular for hybrid teams.

GeraEats Business supports both modes. Individual-order with a £15/head cap means 25 people pick their own meals; the admin sees one invoice.

What about temperature and timing?

Food arriving cold or at different times is the single most common complaint. Mitigations:

Choose restaurants near your office (higher success rate)
Batch orders so everything arrives together, not staggered
Avoid rush hours if possible (12:30–14:00 London)
Use pickup for fast-degrading food (pizza) if someone can collect
Book on platforms that support scheduled-time delivery

Expense and invoicing

For UK offices, VAT-compliant invoices are essential for corporate expense reclaim. GeraEats Business issues these automatically with company name, address, VAT number. Per-head budget caps prevent overspend. Monthly consolidated reporting simplifies accounting.

Cost expectations

Budget: £8–£12 per head (sandwich, salad, or bowl)
Mid-range: £12–£18 per head (restaurant-quality lunch)
Premium: £18–£30+ per head (sit-down-restaurant equivalent)
Catering platters: often cheapest per head for groups of 30+ — tray prices save on multiple delivery fees

Loyalty and rewards

GeraCoins earned on every GeraEats Business order go into the company pool and can be used for future orders — effectively 2–5% rebate on every lunch. Unlike individual loyalty, corporate loyalty stacks properly.