Catering bids vs. direct orders: which one is right for your event?

Two ways to place a catering order on Runzo

When you're planning a catered event through Runzo, you have two options: place a direct order with a specific restaurant, or submit a catering bid request that goes to multiple restaurants. Both approaches work. Which one is right depends on your situation.

Here's a clear breakdown of when to use each.

Direct orders: when you know what you want

A direct order is exactly what it sounds like: you pick a restaurant, you select from their catering menu, you place the order. There's no competitive process, no waiting for quotes, no comparison shopping. You're done in minutes.

Use a direct order when:

• You have a preferred restaurant. Your team loves a specific place. You've ordered from them before. You're not looking to compare.
• Your event is small or simple. A 10-person team lunch doesn't need three competing bids. Just order.
• You're time-constrained. Event is in 48 hours. No time for a bid process. Direct order, done.
• Your menu is specific. You need a particular cuisine or dish that only one restaurant does well. Bidding is pointless when you already know who you want.

The tradeoff: you're paying whatever that restaurant's catering prices are. You're not getting market competition. For smaller orders or loyal customers, that's usually fine.

Bid requests: when you want the market to work for you

A bid request goes to multiple qualified restaurants who match your event requirements. Each restaurant has 24 hours to submit a quote. You compare and choose. ASKZO helps match your request to restaurants most likely to be a good fit — cuisine type, capacity, location, past catering performance.

Use a bid request when:

• Your event is large. Feeding 100+ people? The price variation between restaurants bidding for that order can be $500–$2,000. Competition saves real money at scale.
• You're flexible on restaurant. You want Indian food but don't have a strong preference between three good options in your area. Let them compete.
• You're planning ahead. Event is 2–3 weeks out. You have time for the bid process. Use it.
• Budget is a constraint. If you're managing a strict budget, bid requests give you control. You see what the market offers and choose the best value.

What a good bid looks like

When restaurants submit bids through Runzo, ASKZO formats each quote consistently: menu items, quantities, per-item pricing, total, delivery details, and any notes. You're not comparing apples to oranges — every quote uses the same structure, so the comparison is straightforward.

You can see at a glance what each restaurant includes and what the price difference buys you. In this example, Masala Co. is cheapest but has less variety; Curry House costs more but includes dessert. The decision is yours, with full information.

The hybrid approach

Some customers use both: they have a preferred restaurant for small regular orders (direct), and use bid requests for their large quarterly events. That's a perfectly rational strategy. You're not locked into one mode — use what fits the situation.

The goal is always the same: the right food, for the right number of people, at a price that makes sense. Whether you get there through a direct order or a competitive bid depends on your event. Now you know how to choose.