We know it's been a strange year, but as evidenced by all of the outside the box thinking, caterers have stilll been able to demonstrate their creativity through drop-off/pick-up family meals, boxed meals for drive-in or virtual events, family meal kits, and of course we've still seen in-person events happens, albeit on a smaller skill. No matter the direction your business has taken over the past year, we want to hear about it and recognize you for all that you have been accomplished. 

It's time to get excited now that submissions for the annual ACE Awards are now being accepted.  For 2021, some categories have been combined, while new categories (thanks, COVID) have been created. Time frames for entries have also been extended, covering pre-, during- (and hopefully) post-COVID quarters. This year's new categories include:  

• Product Innovation (Manufacturers & Developers)
• Use of Space
• Technological Innovation (Catering & Event Planners)
• Technological Innovation (Product Developers)
• Best Boxed or Plated or Contained meal
• Community Servant Award

Get your submissions in now for the annual ACE Awards, which will be presented on July 22 at a to-be-deterined location in Miami Beach. 

How to Enter the ACE Awards & Win!

Celebrate the wins

In this messed up year, the best thing we can do for our companies is celebrate the wins and show the world—and each other—how resilient we are. Here are some helpful ideas to consider as you ponder which categories you want to submit into.

1. Get it together.
Incomplete entries will not score well. Assemble all of your components, get your high res photos ready, and then complete each entry. If you need to go back, however, all good—you can access and make changes all the way up until close of the competition on February 01, 2021.

2. Write it right.
While they don’t base their decisions on prose alone, judges say that strong, accurate writing goes far in furthering an entry’s progress in the competition. Truly, when there are a lot of entries, those that are well-written will more deeply resonate.

Columbian Ball courtesy Catering by Michaels

3. Let your photos do the talking.
Well written entries aside, your photos will tell the story in an entirely different way. Include as many professional photos as you are able. Ask yourself if the photo you are about to upload is one you would want to see on a ginormous screen in front of all of your peers or in a digital article touting nominees and winners. You can upload up to 25 photos; but can offer as few as 10.

4. Let truth be told.
Please only include catered events that occurred or products that were developed during the time frame noted: September 30, 2019 (yay, pre-COVID) to December 31, 2020. Anything that traded outside of those dates will be disqualified.

5. Get down to specifics.
It's fine to enter the same event in multiple categories; but be sure to write an original entry for each category.
For example, you may absolutely submit your event into “On-Premise Catering East” and also “Use of Space” but be sure the reasoning speaks to the category. Photos might also change out somewhat: one set may focus on food while the second set may focus on venue.

6. ‘Why should my company win?’
A first-rate entry answers this question not just with a mission statement, but a statement about company culture, or resiliency, or longevity, for example. Push your entry to the finish line with a heartfelt treatise on the company.

Barge Party courtesy Mangia Catering

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Rules

For ACE entries, below are requirements for submission of all categories except Product Innovation:

What challenges did you face executing this event? (Examples could include an empty space transformed, a lost delivery, rain during an outdoor event, lack of a kitchen, COVID restrictions, etc.)

Choose at least two of your favorite aspects of this event and talk about them. (Examples could be menu development, execution of a field kitchen, how quickly you moved guests from point A to B, a particular trend you felt was executed beautifully, etc.)

Under the Big Top - A 95th Birthday Spectacular courtesy The RK Group

Event photos. Submit up to 25 images (but no less than 5) that best represent your participation in this event. More are better as it provides a full understanding of the event’s scope. Please include the name of the photographer to be properly credited or whether the photos are courtesy of your company.

Event documentation. Please provide any corresponding documentation (menus, floor plans, etc.) to clarify any aspect of this event.

Please tell us why you believe your company to be unique and worthy of this award. This can include information about consistent and successful sales strategies, trend-forward menu design and development, food presentation, exceptional training programs that stress staff retention, year-over-year growth, heightened publicity.

For Product Innovation:

What challenges did you face developing this product? (Examples could include )

Choose at least two of your favorite aspects about this product and talk about them. (Examples could be durability, ease in transport, price point, etc.)

Product photos. Submit up to 5 images that best show your product singly and/or in use. More are better as it provides a full understanding of the product’s scope.

Product documentation. Please provide any corresponding documentation (such as specs, materials) to clarify any aspect.

Please tell us why you believe your company to be unique and worthy of this award. This can include information about consistent and successful sales strategies, brilliant staff, generationally owned business, etc.

Good luck!!!

Cover photo courtesy: “Bilston Creek Lavender Farm Wedding” Toque Catering