Stop Wasting Food and Money on Guesswork Inventory Get AI-Powered Forecasting Built Just for Your Catering Workflow
Imagine slashing your overstock by 40% and never running low during peak wedding season again. We build custom AI systems that fit your exact menu rotations and event demands, not some off-the-shelf guess.
Join 150+ businesses with optimized stock levels and happier kitchens
The "Inventory Chaos" Problem
Event-Driven Demand Swings from Weddings or Corporate Buffets That Blindside Your Protein and Produce Stock Levels
Perishable Goods Like Fresh Seafood and Leafy Greens Spoiling Due to Inaccurate Seasonal Forecasts for Peak Holiday Rushes
Manual Tracking Errors in Ingredient Logs Leading to Costly Rush Deliveries of Dairy or Meats Mid-Catering Event
Overbuying Bulk Staples Like Napkins and Specialty Cheeses for One-Off Corporate Gigs That Ties Up Your Budget
Inconsistent Supplier Lead Times for Fresh Herbs or Imported Wines Throwing Off Your Mise en Place Schedules
Menu Customization Requests for Vegan or Allergen-Free Options Creating Unpredictable Needs for Alternative Proteins and Sauces
Tailored AI Forecasting That Fits Your Catering Rhythm
We've helped dozens of catering teams turn chaotic kitchens into efficient operations with custom AI we've built from the ground up.
Why Choose Us
Let's be honest, off-the-shelf inventory tools treat every business like a cookie-cutter operation. But your catering world? It's all about those unpredictable wedding rushes or corporate last-minutes. Here's the thing: we don't slap together generic software. We craft a custom AI system that dives into your historical event data, client preferences, and even weather patterns for outdoor gigs. You're probably thinking, 'Will this really work for my unique setup?' Absolutely—it's flexible, built for your exact workflow, integrating seamlessly with your POS and supplier portals. No more spreadsheets haunting your late nights. Just smart, accurate forecasts that keep your ingredients fresh and your margins healthy.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Efficiency in Your Daily Operations
Precision Predictions for Every Event Type
Precision Predictions for Every Event Type: Picture this: AI that forecasts exactly how much salmon you'll need for a 200-guest wedding versus a 50-person cocktail hour, factoring in regional tastes and plating portions. We've seen clients reduce overstock by 40% on seafood and veggies, turning potential waste into profit within the first quarter. It's like having a crystal ball tuned to your menu and local supplier availability.
Streamlined Cash Flow Without the Stress
Streamlined Cash Flow Without the Stress: No more tying up thousands in unused inventory like excess root vegetables for that one big gala. Our custom models optimize buys based on your actual turnover rates from POS data, freeing up funds for marketing or staff bonuses. One caterer we worked with saved $12K last year alone on bulk produce during wedding season.
Faster Response to Client Curveballs
Faster Response to Client Curveballs: When a bride switches to gluten-free mid-planning, your system adjusts forecasts instantly for alternative flours and nuts. This means less scrambling during prep, happier clients, and ops that run like a well-oiled kitchen during rush hour—cutting response time from days to hours. Efficiency that boosts your reputation without extra hours or overtime costs.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ Labs, we were throwing out $800 worth of seasonal veggies like heirloom tomatoes every weekend because our forecasts were off for summer barbecues and outdoor receptions. Now, with their custom system pulling from our booking calendar and weather APIs, we've cut waste by half in just six months and actually have time to focus on plating creative salads instead of panicking over shortages."
Maria Gonzalez
Operations Manager, Elite Events Catering, Chicago
"Corporate events are our bread and butter, but predicting cocktail ingredients was a nightmare—always overbuying mixers and garnishes for no-shows at networking mixers. Their AI nailed it after integrating our vendor logs and historical attendance data; saved us about 25% on liquor and bar stock costs in the first three months, and our team's way less stressed during peak conference season."
Jamal Carter
Executive Chef, Urban Feast Caterers, New York
"We do a lot of weddings, and last-minute changes like switching to farm-to-table themes used to kill our inventory planning for fresh produce. AIQ built something that factors in guest counts, dietary prefs, and seasonal availability—it's spot on. Dropped our emergency orders for herbs and cheeses from weekly to monthly, and that's real money back in our pocket, about $5K annually."
Sarah Lee
Owner and Lead Planner, Blossom Table Catering, Seattle
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Data Dive
We start by chatting about your catering flow—event types, peak seasons, supplier quirks. Then we map your existing data from bookings to past orders, ensuring the AI learns your unique patterns right from the start.
Custom Model Build
Our engineers craft the AI specifically for you, training it on your historicals like menu sales and weather impacts on outdoor events. It's flexible, so it evolves as your business grows—no rigid templates here.
Integration and Testing
We wire it into your tools—POS, calendars, even supplier apps—for seamless alerts and forecasts. We test with real scenarios, like a mock holiday rush, tweaking until it's perfect for your workflow.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does your inventory forecasting handle the unpredictability of catering events?
Catering is all about those curveballs—last-minute guest increases or menu swaps. Our custom AI doesn't just look at averages; it analyzes your specific event data, like past wedding peaks or corporate drop-offs. We factor in variables such as RSVP confirmations, historical no-show rates, and even regional trends like summer barbecue surges. For instance, if your data shows Fridays spike for appetizers, the system prioritizes that. It's built to adapt, retraining monthly on new inputs, so you're always one step ahead without the guesswork. Clients tell us it feels like an extra team member who never sleeps.
What makes this different from standard inventory software for restaurants?
Standard tools are great for steady diner traffic, but catering? That's event-driven chaos with one-off gigs and perishable rushes. We custom-build for your workflow, ignoring generic templates. Think integrating your booking software directly to forecast for a 300-person gala versus a intimate dinner. No more manual entries that lead to overstocked fridges. We've seen it cut waste by 30-50% for teams like yours, because it's tuned to perishables' short lives and your exact supplier rhythms. You're not adapting to the software; we build the software around you.
How long does it take to set up the custom AI forecasting system?
From our first call to live forecasts, it's typically 4-6 weeks, depending on your data complexity. We kick off with a deep dive into your operations—event calendars, past orders, supplier lists. Then, 2-3 weeks building the model, testing it against real scenarios like a holiday event simulation. The last bit is integration and training your team. It's not rushed; we ensure it's seamless, so your kitchen runs smoother from day one. One catering client went live in under a month and immediately saw better stock alignment for their busy season.
Will this work if we have multiple locations or seasonal staff changes?
Absolutely—multi-site catering adds layers, like varying storage at off-site kitchens. Our system scales effortlessly, with centralized forecasts that account for each location's capacity and transport times. For seasonal hires, we include user-friendly interfaces so temps can input quick updates without hassle. It pulls from shared data sources, ensuring consistency whether you're prepping at headquarters or a remote venue. A client with three trucks and pop-up spots reported 25% less cross-location waste after implementation, because everything syncs in real-time.
What kind of data do you need to get started, and is it secure?
We need your historical basics: event bookings, sales records, inventory logs, and supplier invoices—nothing you wouldn't already track. No sensitive client details required. Security is non-negotiable; we use enterprise-grade encryption and comply with standards like GDPR, hosting on secure AWS with access controls. Your data stays yours—we build the AI to run on your systems post-launch. It's like fortifying your kitchen safe: only authorized eyes see it, and we've never had a breach in our deployments. Peace of mind while optimizing your ops.
Can the forecasting system integrate with our existing tools?
Yes, integration is our specialty—we make it plug-and-play with tools like your CRM for bookings, QuickBooks for costs, or even Google Calendar for event timing. No more siloed data causing errors. For example, if a booking confirms in real-time, the AI updates forecasts instantly, alerting you to reorder shrimp for that seafood-heavy menu. We handle the heavy lifting with robust APIs, ensuring it's reliable even during peak hours. Clients love how it unifies their chaos into one smooth flow, saving hours weekly on manual checks.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.