Best Finger Food Ideas for Corporate Events

Finger Food Ideas can make the difference between an event people simply attend and one they genuinely enjoy. Whether you're organising a board meeting for 12 people, a product launch for 150 guests or an office celebration, the right menu encourages conversation, keeps the schedule running smoothly and caters for a wide range of dietary requirements without creating unnecessary logistics. 

With over 50 years' experience catering corporate events in London, we’ve learned that the best finger food menus aren’t the longest; they’re the ones that offer food that’s easy to nibble and talk with one hand, provide plenty of variety to feed all your guests and take your event schedule into account. Read on for realistic menu suggestions, portion guidelines and tips from our professional team for hosting happy helpers and teammates. 

For menus you can order straight away, view our entire Finger Food collection. 

Variety, convenience, and options.  

These are the most important things to consider when planning your next corporate finger food menu. 

Corporate parties aren’t private celebrations. Your guests will be talking to clients or colleagues, holding drinks in their hands, stopping for food between discussions, or taking notes at presentations. Catering should suit the flow of your event and add to it, not distract from what’s happening. 

Your menu should ideally incorporate:  

• Cold canapés that will withstand being displayed for longer periods.
• Hot finger food kept warm until serving.
• Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options throughout your menu.
• Deliciously indulgent options for client-facing events.
• Light bites as well as filling options.  

From running corporate events for years, we’ve learnt guests appreciate variety more than volume. Nobody wants 20 potatoes hollowed out with various fillings - offer a range of flavours and textures instead. 

Mix fresh vegetarian finger food like Mini Caprese Skewers with premium seafood, vegan options and warm BBQ sliders for a crowd-pleasing menu with something for everyone. 

Keep your timing practical too. You can get away with displaying cold items ahead of time but will want to stagger when your hot food is brought out.

The less complicated your food is for casual meetings and office events, the better it will be. 

Client-facing events should have stylish, thoughtful food that showcases how professional your company is. 

Your best bites for entertaining at business events are dainty without being awkward to eat. People should feel like they can keep talking without pausing to use utensils or sit down. 

Some of our favourites include:  

• Luxury Salmon 3 Ways with King Prawns 
• A Selection of 6 Cocktail Tartlettes 
• Mini Caprese Skewers 
• Colourful Canapé Selection 

When hosting events for the c-suite, investors or the press, mix and match upscale seafood, sophisticated vegetarian options and seasonal produce for a classy spread that won't overpower your guests.

Plan don’t make swaps at the last minute. 

If you’re organising a corporate event these days, you’ll know that guests are likely to have dietary requirements such as halal, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free or nut-free diets. Think less swapping plates at the last minute, more designing your menu around these requirements from the start. 

Owen Brothers Catering has been feeding Londoners at their events since 1974. That’s how we know you can easily include a wide variety of dietary requirements on your menu. What really helps our customers plan for mixed dietary requirements, is our 5- star food hygiene rating, and our dedication to sustainability and ethically sourcing local produce. 

Here are a few menu ideas to get you started: 

• Vegan Canapé Selection 
• Gluten Free Finger Food 
• Vegan Fresh Crudités with Vegan Dips 

• Ask about dietary requirements when taking the order. 
• Make sure there are hearty options for vegetarians and vegans. 
• Label allergen-friendly dishes.  
• Separate allergen-friendly dishes when serving.  
• Order a little extra of vegan and gluten-free options if you're unsure of final attendance. 

Ultimately guests will be grateful for a real choice rather than an ‘also ran’ plate after everyone else has eaten.

The right quantity depends on the time of day, event length and whether finger food replaces a full meal. 

Here's a practical planning guide that we regularly use when advising corporate clients. 

Another useful rule is balancing hot and cold items. 

Cold options can be kept out longer, and warm dishes offer diversity and give guests more filling choices. 

It’s also helpful to offer about one vegetarian/vegan option for every three savoury dishes. This way you naturally cover mixed groups while not making 'alternative diets' feel singled out. 

Leave yourself a little buffer room too. People are always running late to business events and there’s nothing worse than running out of food. Empty plates make a much better impression than a little excess.

Behind every perfectly executed corporate event is a skilled caterer who does much more than just cook. 

Timetables, portion control, allergens, presentation and seamless service. These are the nuts and bolts that fly under the radar when everything runs smoothly, but are crucial to avoiding hungry waits, stock outs and unnecessary panic for event planners. 

At Owen Brothers Catering, we have been providing corporate catering events throughout London since 1974. Our 5-star food hygiene rating and comprehensive halal, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free options ensure peace of mind for businesses hosting anything from small internal gatherings to large-scale product launches. Coupled with our promise of sustainable and ethically sourced produce, clients can trust us to take care of all the admin so you can focus on looking after guests.