Two Denver catering companies are combining, even as most caterers have seen business decline because of corporate clampdowns on discretionary spending.
Seasons Cafe and Catering has purchased portions of the business of Options Catering, once the largest corporate caterer in metro Denver.
Seasons purchased Options’ client list, some of its equipment and its future contracts, said Tom Karantounis, Seasons’ owner. He takes over the business today and expects to hire close to half of Options’ 18 employees.
Options owner Halene Weisbart said, “I’ve been doing this for 23 years, and it was a good time (to sell).”
She and Karantounis declined to reveal the sale terms.
Karantounis plans to rename the business Seasons-Options. He will launch a new menu combining items from both companies.
At one time, Options boasted 30 employees and five satellite locations in addition to its Denver headquarters.
Besides the downturn in corporate business, caterers are also fending off increased competition from hotels and restaurants that have added delivery services, said Jim Turley, co-owner of Nancy’s Catering & Bakery in downtown Denver. Nancy’s has cut its staff by a third since 2000 to deal with industry changes, he said.
Karantounis acknowledges that it’s a risk to expand his business while the industry is still struggling.
“Hopefully we can keep Options’ current clients and build some more,” he said.
Staff writer Kristi Arellano can be reached at 303-820-1902 or karellano@denverpost.com.
