As companies compete to attract and retain top talent, daily lunch catering has emerged as one of the most effective and meaningful perks a business can offer. More than just a free meal, daily lunch builds stronger teams, improves productivity, and boosts employee loyalty—all while reflecting the company’s values and culture.
From office catering programs in high-growth startups to corporate catering for Fortune 500 firms, the trend is clear: food brings people together, and it keeps them coming back.
In this post, we’ll explore why investing in daily lunch catering is a powerful lever for improving workplace culture, performance, and retention—and we’ll share the data that proves it.
Lunch Builds Community and Culture
81% of employees say they feel more connected to their team when they share meals together. In an age of hybrid work, distributed teams, and back-to-office transitions, creating shared moments of connection is more important than ever.
Daily lunch catering creates natural, low-pressure opportunities for employees to gather, talk, and connect across roles and departments. It replaces siloed lunches at desks with a shared table—and that has cultural power.
What it looks like:
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Cross-functional teams eating together without a meeting agenda
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New employees bonding faster over shared meals
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Managers using lunch hours for informal check-ins and mentorship
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Employees staying onsite during breaks, deepening relationships
Corporate catering isn’t just about convenience—it’s about community. And that sense of belonging translates into real business outcomes: According to a Gallup study, employees who feel connected to their workplace culture are 3x more likely to be engaged and 5x more likely to recommend their company as a great place to work.
Productivity Gets a Measurable Boost
What happens when you eliminate “Where should we go for lunch?” or “Do I have time to cook?” from your team's daily routine? You remove stress and decision fatigue—and make it easier for employees to focus on meaningful work.
According to a report by ezCater, 67% of employees say they feel more productive when lunch is provided at work. Why? Because they’re spending less time planning meals and more time doing work that matters. Daily lunch catering streamlines the day, supports focus, and makes work feel more seamless.
And it’s not just short-term focus that improves. When employees are nourished and supported, cognitive function, creativity, and collaboration all improve. In short: well-fed teams work better.
Retention Improves—and Turnover Drops
Employee turnover is expensive. Between hiring costs, onboarding, and lost productivity, it can cost up to 2x an employee’s annual salary to replace them. That’s why high-performing companies are prioritizing retention as a key business metric.
Daily lunch catering is one of the most cost-effective investments you can make in employee loyalty. According to research from Peapod, 63% of employees who receive regular free meals say they plan to stay with their company for at least five years.
Why lunch matters for retention:
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It’s a daily signal that the company cares
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It supports well-being without requiring extra time or spending
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It fosters social bonds that make people want to stay
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It sets your workplace apart from others offering generic perks
In fact, 94% of employees say they prefer meal perks over other benefits like gym memberships or commuter subsidies. Food is tangible, daily, and emotional—which makes it uniquely powerful for shaping how employees feel about their workplace.
Daily Lunch Supports Hybrid Work Models
As companies navigate return-to-office mandates and hybrid schedules, creating meaningful incentives to come in is critical. Office catering has become a magnet for onsite work—and a subtle way to increase physical presence without forcing it.
When lunch is provided:
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Employees are more likely to show up on days when it’s served
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Office days feel more rewarding and less like a chore
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Team members coordinate in-person collaboration around shared meals
A study by Envoy found that 61% of employees would return to the office more often if meals were provided. That’s huge for companies trying to increase in-office presence while maintaining a flexible culture.
It Saves Employees (and Employers) Time and Money
Let’s talk numbers. The average employee spends between $50–$80 per week on lunch—and far more in major cities. That adds up to thousands of dollars per year. For employees, daily lunch catering is an instant cost savings. For employers, it’s a high-value benefit that feels generous without being exorbitant.
But it’s not just about money—it’s also about time. Finding food, ordering takeout, waiting in line, and walking to and from restaurants can eat up 45–60 minutes of the day. Corporate catering turns that time into rest, recharge, and relationship-building, without disrupting the workday.
Office Catering Reinforces Your Company Values
The type of food you serve sends a message. Whether it’s climate-friendly menus, support for local food systems, or accommodations for dietary needs, office catering can become a living expression of your company’s values.
Forward-thinking food programs:
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Reduce food waste and use compostable serviceware
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Offer plant-based and sustainable menu options
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Accommodate allergies, preferences, and religious restrictions
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Source ingredients from local and minority-owned businesses
Companies that partner with conscious caterers aren’t just feeding employees—they’re aligning food choices with their sustainability goals, diversity commitments, and wellness strategies.
Lunch Creates Space for Mentorship, Innovation, and Collaboration
Some of the best ideas don’t happen in conference rooms. They happen over lunch.
Daily lunch catering creates space for spontaneous conversations, idea sharing, and mentorship. It breaks down barriers between senior leaders and junior employees. It encourages departments to mingle. It turns a solo lunch break into a fertile ground for innovation.
And the data backs it up: companies that encourage informal collaboration are 20% more likely to be top performers, according to research from McKinsey.
Lunch might seem simple—but it’s actually a high-return collaboration tool.
The Bottom Line: Daily Lunch Catering Is a Culture-Building Superpower
When done well, daily lunch catering isn’t just a perk. It’s a strategic investment in how your people feel, connect, and perform. It builds community. It drives retention. It supports productivity. And it differentiates your company in a competitive hiring market.
Whether you’re building a return-to-office strategy or reinforcing your hybrid culture, office catering helps make every workday more intentional, more human, and more connected.
Ready to Bring Daily Lunch Catering to Your Team?
Whether you’re a 50-person startup or a national company with offices across the country, Sifted delivers corporate catering programs that are designed to feed your people and fuel your culture.
Let’s talk about how daily lunch catering can help your team feel more connected, valued, and energized—every single day.