Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Santa Lucia.
Hi Jill, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I started Catering Works in 1989. I went to culinary school to become a chef. As a little girl, I was inspired by my grandmother’s cooking and baking and my love to take care of people and those two things helped me realize my passion for not just baking and cooking but also creating memorable life events for people. Since then, we have added to the Catering Works brand, Bloom Works, Figs Market, The Laurelbrook venue, and Ella’s popcorn. Fig’s market was a retail specialty food store we had opened in 2004, and we revived it as an e-commerce business during the pandemic to help sustain the losses of our core business. Ella’s popcorn was a product we had served throughout the years as a signature popcorn recipe on the Catering Works menu that I originally created for my daughter Ella’s birthday parties. During the pandemic, we realized it was time to go to market with this product in the hope of survival. Catering Works also has recently taken over the food service at the North Carolina Museum of Art. This includes cafes, concessions, and special events. Our team is comprised of 60 full-time and up to 200 seasonal employees.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
33 years has presented some challenges for sure. The top three were 911, the 2008 housing crash, and 2020 Covid 19, the largest struggle to date. In 7 days, we had 7 million dollars of sales canceled. There is no preparation for such a catastrophic event on a business. Customers wanted their deposits back; we had no idea how long we could sustain them, and the fear for my sister and me was unsurmountable. We had to lay off employees, look at our finances, how we would survive without being able to operate, and what we would sell if we couldn’t gather. That was a challenge that brought us together closer and broke our hearts all at the same time. The challenges showed us how strong and creative we could be, and we went into survival mode. Today the challenges continue; the virus has caused a staff shortage, resourcing issues, the cost of goods is at an all-time high, and the gas increase has not helped with trying to be profitable. Covid has been the hardest challenge to endure, and it’s not over, which makes it harder in a demanding service business. We have had to turn away business that we used to do without a glitch because of the staffing crisis.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Catering Works?
Catering Works has served local businesses, the private sector, and non-profits for 33 years. Our services include full-service and drop-off catering, florals, and rental coordination. We are fortunate to have received many awards for the best wedding caterer, caterer, and cooking competitions. Catering Works provides a personal experience for our clients, reflecting on what is important to them in terms of menu and service. Our recipes are thoughtful and delicious.
Bloom Works brand provides beautiful flowers and décor for weddings, social events, and everyday occasions. Flowers are so important for a beautiful tablescape for special events and a wedding and are an integral part of the décor and storytelling for the day. Our Laurelbrook and NCMA provide stunning backdrops ranging from industrial chic to upscale modern. Figs Market is our chef-curated, heat-and-eat meals using our signature Catering Works recipes created to help busy families get through weekly meal planning.
Ella’s Popcorn is our newest and sweetest company featuring a superior collection of artisan popcorn with indulgent mix-ins and authentic Belgian chocolate; Handmade and packed into a perfect trio box for corporate gifting and special occasions or bags for snacking. You can also find Ella’s locally at specialty retail stores on the HSN network.
My role in our company is the menu and recipe development to stay on trend and offer the menu for each customer. It’s a fun job utilizing my creative skills and culinary talent. I am proud of my company and would never be where we are without my sister Lorin. She is the VP of Catering Works and has created software and systems to keep us organized, on time, accountable, and profitable. We have an amazing leadership team, and we could not do all of this without the collective support and leadership.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Apps: Calm, Fit bit, Apple Music
Books:
The Paper Tiger Syndrome by Rebecca Ward
Badass Habits, Jen Sincero
Thrive, Ariana Huffington
Podcasts:
Flowing East and West, The perfectly imperfect journey, Sherry Essig & Anne Robie
Tony Robbins Podcast, Tony Robbins
Daily Stoic
Contact Info:
- Website: cateringworks.com ellaspopcorn.com raleighbloomworks.com figsmarket.com
- Instagram: @cateringworks @ellaspopcorn @bloomworksraleigh @figsmarketnc
- Facebook: cateringworks ellas popcorn figs market bloomworks raleigh
Image Credits
Southern Bride and Groom Catering Works
