Catersource + The Special Event Schedule 2026
From the Kitchen to the Boardroom — How Owners & Chefs Build Profitable, Aligned Catering Companies
Great food alone does not guarantee a profitable or sustainable catering company. In this session, owners and chefs explore how everyday culinary and ownership decisions directly impact profitability, culture, staffing, and long-term growth. Attendees will gain a shared framework for understanding where misalignment occurs, why strong kitchens still struggle financially, and how leadership roles must evolve to support both creative excellence and business performance. This session establishes a common operating language that helps principals and chefs make better decisions together.
Takeaway
Session Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
Understand how culinary and ownership decisions ripple across the entire business
Identify common misalignment points between chefs and ownership
Clarify the modern role of the Executive Chef in catering organizations
Recognize why profitable growth often breaks down inside the kitchen
Establish a shared leadership language to improve decision-making and alignment