Catering Capers, known for their catering services at weddings, private events, and various Tallahassee gatherings including those at Florida State, Florida A&M, and the City of Tallahassee, is set to expand its reach. Following a unique journey that led through Tallahassee’s expansive Amazon fulfillment center, the company will soon be opening a storefront where the public can enjoy their culinary offerings through walk-in purchases.
The genesis of this expansion came from a challenge faced by Amazon team members working long, demanding shifts at the 2.8-million-square-foot facility near Mahan Drive and I-10. With limited time for breaks, finding a convenient and satisfying meal option was often difficult.
In July of last year, Amazon contacted Justin Chiricos, owner and executive chef of Catering Capers, with a request to provide hot meals to Amazon team members three days a week.
Kim Price, the general manager of Amazon’s fulfillment center in Tallahassee, expressed the company’s commitment to enhancing the employee experience by collaborating with local small businesses like Catering Capers. Their goal was to offer a menu of convenient and freshly prepared hot food options to Amazon employees.
In July of last year, Amazon contacted Justin Chiricos, owner and executive chef of Catering Capers, with a request to provide hot meals to Amazon team members three days a week.
Kim Price, the general manager of Amazon’s fulfillment center in Tallahassee, expressed the company’s commitment to enhancing the employee experience by collaborating with local small businesses like Catering Capers. Their goal was to offer a menu of convenient and freshly prepared hot food options to Amazon employees.
This month, the meal program expanded to cover five days a week.
In an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat, Justin Chiricos emphasized the company’s focus on delivering exceptional food quality and maximizing the value offered to customers.
Amazon employees have been presented with a variety of choices, including seared salmon accompanied by rice pilaf, beef brisket quesadillas, and roasted chicken paired with garlic and herb roasted potatoes.
Chiricos emphasized the company’s commitment to preparing high-quality and wholesome meals for their customers.
Catering Capers has left impression all over Tallahassee, north Florida
Since graduating from Johnson & Wales University in 1995, Justin Chiricos has made a significant culinary impact across the city, consistently surpassing expectations, as the company’s slogan suggests.
Established in 1999, the business has earned a reputation as one of the city’s premier catering services. Their warehouse facility-turned-kitchen on East Park Avenue serves as the hub for meal preparation and delivery, with nearly 10 chefs working concurrently to fulfill the day’s events and customer orders. Previously, they operated their catering business out of the former Tallahassee Democrat office on Magnolia Street, serving journalists, employees from the nearby Ford dealership, and numerous others.
In Tallahassee, Amazon, the largest private sector job creator, utilizes a cafeteria space to offer on-site meals for its team members to buy. Catering Capers supplies an average of 150 meals daily, distributed between the morning and night shifts.
Justin Chiricos remarked, “Leaving the premises isn’t really feasible for them.” Twice daily, Catering Capers loads its truck at its operational center with meals to replenish the hot boxes in the fulfillment center’s kitchen.
A member of the Catering Capers team remains onsite to distribute meals and assist customers by explaining the available options. Chiricos mentioned plans to initiate customer surveys soon, aiming to gather feedback on preferences and identify any adjustments needed between what’s currently offered and what customers desire.
Deal with Amazon led to storefront operation
Delivering hot meals to Amazon has proven to be a steppingstone for the catering business as it continues to diversify its offerings by offering hot meals outside of special events.
Catering Capers received requests from various businesses, including Danfoss Turbocor, a prominent contributor to manufacturing jobs in the city. Additionally, the prospect of another Amazon center slated for Midway further motivated Catering Capers to pursue expansion into a physical walk-in storefront.
At the Park Avenue location, customers can now enjoy meals such as grilled shrimp with cheese grits or crispy chicken house mac and cheese throughout the week, with prices ranging from $10 to $14.
With the assistance of his skilled chefs, carefully selected from trade schools such as Lively Technical College, Chiricos ensures that the 2,500-square-foot kitchen on Park Avenue operates at full capacity every day.
Chiricos aims to establish a more consistent work culture for his employees, offering full healthcare coverage and additional benefits. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing that it’s the people who ultimately drive the success of the business.
