The Flex Catering Alternative for Event Caterers
Flex Catering is great for high-volume drop-off and corporate lunch delivery. But if your business is weddings, galas, and custom events... you need software built for memorable experiences. That's Curate.
"I really couldn't imagine scaling at the level we're scaling without Curate... It's easily the best business decision we've made."
Chopped Winner Jimmy Matiz · Matiz Cuisine
What is Flex Catering?
Flex Catering is software for high-volume catering operations. Based in Australia with offices in Miami and London, they serve corporate caterers, restaurant chains, groceries with prepared foods, and large hospitality groups like Delaware North.
Flex excels at operational efficiency: online ordering portals, kitchen display systems, delivery dispatch with driver apps, and production workflows for high-volume orders. If you're delivering hundreds of boxed lunches daily, Flex has the tools for that.
But Flex is built for transactions, not experiences. If your business is about custom events where each client gets a personalized journey... beautiful proposals, consultative selling, and creating memorable moments... Curate is designed for that work.
Why Event Caterers Choose Curate
Flex Catering is optimized for volume. Curate is optimized for client experience. Here's what that means for your business.
Built for high-volume, not high-touch
Flex Catering is designed for corporate drop-off, recurring orders, and production efficiency. It's great for boxed lunches and daily meal delivery. But for weddings, galas, and custom events, it's missing the consultative tools you need.
Curate is built for event-based catering where every client gets a personalized experience. Beautiful proposals, custom menus, and a client journey designed to impress.
Utilitarian quotes, not impressive proposals
Flex Catering creates functional order forms and quotes. They're designed for efficiency and repeat orders. But they won't wow a bride or corporate event planner.
Curate creates stunning, interactive proposals that clients love. One web link with your proposal, contract, and payment options. Designed to win business.
No rental or event design capabilities
Flex Catering is focused purely on food. If you provide tables, linens, or decor alongside catering, you'll need separate systems.
Curate handles catering, rentals, and event design in one platform. Full-service event companies don't need multiple tools.
Self-service vs. consultative selling
Flex Catering's approach is built around online ordering portals where clients place orders themselves. Great for corporate lunch orders. Not ideal for custom event planning.
Curate supports the consultative sales process. You guide clients through options, customize proposals together, and build relationships that lead to referrals.
See How Event Caterers Scale with Curate
Chopped Winner Jimmy Matiz of Matiz Cuisine shares how Curate helps his team manage high-volume catering operations while delivering exceptional client experiences.
"I really couldn't imagine scaling at the level we're scaling without Curate... we're able to manage so many more events than we would have been able to otherwise."
— Chopped Winner Jimmy Matiz, Owner, Matiz Cuisine
Curate vs Flex Catering: Feature Comparison
Different tools for different catering models. See how Curate and Flex compare.
| Feature | Curate | Flex Catering |
|---|---|---|
| Beautiful, client-facing proposals | ✓ | ✗ |
| Designed for event-based catering | ✓ | ✗ |
| Consultative client journey | ✓ | ✗ |
| Rental inventory management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Profitability tracking per event | ✓ | ✗ |
| API access (Enterprise) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Built-in e-signatures | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online payment collection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recipe costing | ✓ | ✓ |
| QuickBooks integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Staff scheduling integrations | ✓ | ✓ |
| High-volume online ordering portal | ✗ | ✓ |
| Delivery dispatch and driver app | ✗ | ✓ |
What Event Caterers Say About Curate
Don't just take our word for it. Here's what catering professionals have to say about Curate.
"Curate has beautiful proposals that wow clients from the get-go. We've sped up the time we spent doing proposals by a thousand percent!"
"I'm booking 13 out of 15 proposals sent! Booking rate with this program is way higher than it was."
"AMAZING!!! So easy, intuitive, great onboarding staff. I can't say enough. Wish we'd made the move sooner!!"
Who is Curate Best For?
Curate is built for caterers who create memorable experiences, not just deliver food.
Wedding Caterers
Create stunning proposals that match the elegance of the events you cater. Custom menus, seamless contracts, and payment collection in one beautiful experience.
Gala & Social Event Caterers
Handle large-scale galas, fundraisers, and social events with professional proposals and production tools that scale with guest counts.
Custom Corporate Event Caterers
For corporate events that go beyond boxed lunches. Holiday parties, award ceremonies, and executive dinners deserve beautiful proposals.
Off-Site Caterers
Perfect for caterers who go to their clients. Manage custom menus, recipes, shopping lists, and production for events at any location.
Venues with In-House Catering
Hotels, venues, and event spaces with catering departments. Manage room bookings and food production in one platform.
Full-Service Event Companies
Catering plus rentals or decor? Curate handles it all in one platform. No need for separate systems.
Real Results from Real Caterers
Hear what event caterers say about working with Curate.
"I'm booking 13 out of 15 proposals sent! Booking rate with this program is way higher than it was."
— Lavonne Cimbak, Sage Bleu Catering
"I really couldn't imagine scaling at the level we're scaling without Curate."
— Chopped Winner Jimmy Matiz, Matiz Cuisine
"Curate has beautiful proposals that wow clients. We've sped up proposal time by a thousand percent!"
— Whitney Fredin, Whitney Fredin Catering & Events
Proposals That Win Business
Flex Catering creates functional order forms designed for efficiency. Great for corporate lunch orders. But when a bride is choosing between caterers, your proposal is your first impression.
With Curate, you send one web link that includes your proposal, contract, and payment options. Your clients see a beautiful, branded experience that reflects the quality of your work.
- Stunning, customizable proposal templates
- Built-in e-signatures and contracts
- Integrated payment collection via Stripe
"Curate has beautiful proposals that wow clients from the get-go."
Whitney Fredin · Whitney Fredin Catering & Events
Guide Clients Through Their Event
Flex Catering is built for self-service ordering. Clients log into a portal and place orders themselves. Efficient for recurring corporate lunches.
Curate supports the consultative journey. You guide clients through options, customize proposals together, and build relationships. All communication stays connected to each event, so nothing gets lost.
"Using Curate helps me focus on why I started my business, rather than trying to learn new software."
Lisa Stonehouse · Stonehouse Catering
Catering, Rentals, and More
Flex Catering is focused purely on food. If you also provide tables, linens, or decor, you'll need separate systems for each.
Curate handles catering, rentals, and event design in one platform. Full-service event companies can manage everything together. Track rental inventory by date and include it all in one beautiful proposal.
Why Event Caterers Choose Curate
If your business is about creating memorable experiences, here's why Curate is built for you.
Beautiful Proposals That Win Business
Your proposals are your first impression. Curate's stunning, interactive proposals help you stand out from competitors sending order forms and spreadsheets.
Consultative, Not Transactional
Guide clients through their event. Curate supports the consultative sales process where you build relationships, not just process orders.
Rentals, Florals, and Event Design
If you're more than just a caterer, Curate handles it all. Track rental inventory and manage full-service events.
Profitability on Every Event
Know your margins before you send the proposal. Recipe costing, labor tracking, and profitability analysis built into every event.
One Link for Everything
Proposal, contract, and payments in one web link. Clients get a seamless experience. Changes sync in real-time.
API Access for Custom Integrations
Curate's Enterprise plan includes API access. Connect to your existing systems and build custom workflows.
Ready to Get Started?
Our dedicated onboarding team will help you set up Curate for your event catering business. Import your recipes, configure your proposals, and train your team.
Setup & Import
We'll help you set up recipes, menus, and import your existing client data.
Personalized Training
Get one-on-one onboarding with your team to learn proposals, recipes, and production tools.
Ongoing Support
Our team is always here to help via email and scheduled video calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Curate for event caterers.
How is Curate different from Flex Catering?
Flex Catering is built for high-volume corporate catering, drop-off delivery, and recurring orders. Think boxed lunches and daily meal service. Curate is built for event-based catering where each client gets a personalized experience. Weddings, galas, corporate events, social gatherings. If your business is about creating memorable experiences, not just delivering food efficiently, Curate is designed for you.
What if I do both event catering and corporate drop-off?
Many caterers handle both. For your event business (weddings, galas, custom events), Curate excels with beautiful proposals and consultative tools. For high-volume corporate drop-off with repeat orders, Flex may have operational features better suited to that workflow. Some caterers use different tools for different business lines.
Does Curate have online ordering?
Curate focuses on the consultative event experience rather than self-service ordering portals. Clients receive beautiful proposals via a web link, review options, sign contracts, and pay deposits. That said, Curate does integrate with Shopify. Orders placed through your Shopify store can flow into Curate as events for fulfillment, recipes, and operations. So you get the best of both worlds if needed.
Can Curate handle recurring corporate clients?
Yes. Curate makes it easy to duplicate past events and proposals for returning clients. But it's designed around the event workflow, not daily recurring orders. If you have corporate clients booking custom events regularly, Curate works great.
Does Curate have recipe and food costing?
Yes. Curate includes full recipe management with ingredient-level costing, automatic quantity scaling based on guest count, shopping lists, and profitability tracking. Many caterers find our recipe tools more intuitive for event-based work.
What about rental inventory?
Curate tracks rental inventory (tables, chairs, linens, decor, etc.) with date-based availability. If you provide rentals alongside catering, everything is managed in one system. Flex Catering doesn't offer this.
Can I also manage rentals and event design?
Yes. Curate handles catering, rentals, and event design in one platform. Full-service event companies can manage everything together instead of using separate systems for each service line.
Does Curate integrate with QuickBooks?
Yes. Curate integrates with QuickBooks for seamless accounting sync. We also integrate with Stripe for payments, Nowsta and Staffmate for staffing, Galley for kitchen management, and Google Calendar for scheduling.
How long does it take to get started with Curate?
Most caterers are fully operational on Curate within 2-4 weeks. Our dedicated onboarding team helps you set up recipes, import data, and train your team.
What if I need help after getting started?
Curate provides ongoing support via email and scheduled video calls. You'll also have access to our extensive knowledge base with an AI assistant, video tutorials, and regular training webinars.
Ready to See Curate in Action?
Schedule a free demo to see why event caterers choose Curate for beautiful proposals, rentals, and full event production.
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