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From vision to value

What if your catering budget could do more than manage costs?
What if it could spark delight, empower teams, and bring big visions to life?

At BM, we believe finance isn’t just about spreadsheets. It’s about people. It’s about purpose. And it’s about creating delicious, sustainable workplaces where hospitality thrives.

In a recent Lunch at Work podcast, we’ve pulled back the curtain on what really drives successful budgeting in catering and hospitality.

Spoiler alert: it starts way before the numbers.

It starts with the vision

Every great budget starts with a bold question: What are we trying to achieve?

Before a single penny is spent, we align with our clients to understand their goals. Whether they’re transforming a tired food offer or launching a brand-new site, we begin with clarity on the destination. From there, we map out how to get there within the financial realities, and sometimes constraints of the client’s budget.

Because budgeting isn’t just accounting. It’s strategy.

Numbers matter—but not the way you think

“Spend should be measured by how happy the customers are, not just how much money we’re saving”.

Yes, budgets involve forecasting and data crunching. But great financial planning in hospitality is also about intuition, experience, and storytelling through numbers. That means taking inflation, rising national insurance costs, and food price trends into account, whilst still delivering joyful, satisfying dining experiences.

What clients really want

When clients come to us, they usually already have a vision. What they want their catering offer to feel like, look like, taste like. They often come to us because their current provider isn’t living up to that vision.

That’s where we come in. We take data (site performance, customer feedback, current spend) and merge it with what’s happening in the world (inflation, wage legislation, economic shifts). Then, we use that to build a budget that’s realistic, responsive and most importantly, people-focused.

Communication is the superpower

When costs go up, the key isn’t panic, it’s proactive communication.

“We can’t control inflation,” the podcast reminded us, “but we can control how we respond to it.” By forecasting clearly and communicating openly, we help clients make informed decisions, like adjusting tariffs or rethinking service flows, to mitigate rising costs.

Watch out for these budget busters

One of the most overlooked budget items? Equipment maintenance and replacement.

If your oven breaks and you haven’t planned for it—your budget’s toast. That’s why we always recommend clients maintain a clear capital investment plan. Surprises will happen. The best defense? Being one step ahead.

And let’s not forget the biggest cost of all: your people. Absence within teams is a silent budget killer. A strong, engaged team isn’t just good for service—it’s essential for controlling spend.

Forecasting: your financial crystal ball

No one has a crystal ball, but forecasting comes close. At BM, we bake forecasting into everything we do, from quarterly reviews to monthly budget check-ins. This helps us and our clients avoid surprises and make agile, real-time decisions that keep projects on track and budgets in check.

Wage compression: the silent threat

Here’s a term you might not have heard, wage compression. When minimum wages rise (a good thing) but senior staff wages don’t rise accordingly, the pay gap narrows. And with it, so can motivation, ambition, and retention.

This trend is putting pressure on catering and hospitality businesses across the UK. It’s one of the most pressing long-term challenges we face, and it demands regular review and transparent conversations with our teams.

The future of finance: tech, speed, and service

In five years, hospitality will look very different and finance will play a central role in that change. We’re on the brink of a technology revolution that will transform how we serve, how we buy, and how we interact.

Think high streets filled with cafés instead of shops. Think lightning-fast service, predictive analytics, and fully digitised kitchens. But amid all that change, the human side of hospitality will stay strong and possibly get even stronger.

Budgeting with heart

At the end of the day, a good budget doesn’t just protect margins.

It creates magic
It empowers teams
It delights customers
It turns vision into reality

At BM, we believe food has the power to do more than fill plates, it brings energy, connection and meaning to the workplace. Whether you’re rethinking your current offer or starting from scratch, we’re here to help shape a catering experience that reflects your people, your values and your ambitions.

Ready to bring your workplace catering vision to life?

Let's talk