A guide to planning the perfect company picnic

If you’re thinking of throwing a picnic for staff, suppliers or for business partners, there’s never been a better time of year. The sun is out (most of the time!) and it’s a great way to enjoy some delicious food, while having pleasant conversations and enjoying a bit of fresh air. It’s also the perfect opportunity to show your attendees a little appreciation for their ongoing contribution to the company.

Organising a company picnic is no walk in the park however, and it’s vitally important to be organised and have all your ducks in a row well before the event. So how can you guarantee that your fun, al fresco day out goes ahead without a hitch? Here are a few handy tips.

Choosing your picnic location

Australia is blessed with some wonderful outdoor spaces perfect for picnic and corporate BBQs, so it’s unlikely you’ll have trouble finding a venue. Think about areas in the vicinity of your office (or thereabouts) such as glorious green parks, refreshing waterside grassy knolls or a beautiful private garden filled with flowers. Areas with lots of leafy trees that will provide shade are good for the warmer months.

Don’t forget to look into whether you need to consider permits for some parks and outdoor locations, whether there are good bathroom facilities, garbage bins and plenty of parking. If this all seems a bit daunting, contact one of our friendly events managers and they can take care of all these details and more for you.

Some location ideas to consider:

• A beachside affair - ensure there is ample shade and sunscreen provided
• Down by the river - a classic location and your guests can even stroll off all the delicious picnic treats you’ve provided
• Harborside - set up on some comfortable grass in a park overlooking the harbour. Gorgeous sea breezes, without the sand at the beach
• Private park - find a secluded park for gorgeous views of nature and some privacy for your guests

Picnic catering

Take the hassle out of catering by ordering the food prior to the picnic and getting it delivered on the day. Forget running to the supermarket beforehand and carrying armfuls of cheese and dip to the location! It’s best to make sure you have somewhere cool to store meat, cheese, creamy salads and fruit, or alternatively, get everyone to dig in straight away.

Think about items that are easy to eat and don’t require too many utensils. Consider:

• Delicious gourmet sandwiches and wraps
• Tasty skewers with fresh grilled meats, tasty chicken skewers or crispy veggies and cheeses! You can mix it up with some fruit skewers too, covered in decadent dark chocolate.
• Good old party pies and sausage rolls
• Cupcakes and little treats
• BBQ meat and veggies - have you decided on a traditional Aussie BBQ? You can pre-order the meat so it’s ready for the day. Just be sure to get your designated chef to start cooking straight away or hand it over the experts who will grill the perfect snag
• Mexican burritos, chips and guac, or nacho bowls!
• Sushi, bahn mi and some fresh rice paper rolls never go astray.

Do not forget to cater for all food allergies and special diets your guests may have. Provide vegan burgers, gluten and dairy free options and if people are still concerned, it’s a good idea to label the food so that people know what they can and can’t eat.

Drinks on ice

Stock your eskies with tonnes of ice and have a wide selection of drinks on offer – enough that you’re certain you won’t run out. Order the drinks alongside the food to make things easier in terms of delivery and keeping everything cool.

Every Aussie knows that a BBQ isn’t complete without an ice cold beer in a koozie, but make sure you also include refreshing, non-alcoholic options like:

• Water - maybe infuse fruit for extra flavour
• Bubbling soft drinks
• Iced tea
• Yummy juices

If you’re really looking to push the boat out, why not organise some cocktails to complement your surroundings? Pimms has made its way from the UK and is the perfect accompaniment to a sophisticated picnic, as are elegant champagne cocktails and even a light fruity punch.

Entertainment for everyone

No, we don’t mean the dreaded egg and spoon race! Think about organising some gentle entertainment, such as a live band or even a special speaker to add an element of surprise to the proceedings.

Bring along a set of boules or a cricket set, so if people are looking to unleash their competitive side, they can.

Some entertainment ideas to consider:

• Live music
• A fun game of cricket
• Frisbee
• Scavenger hunt

Want to take the headache out of organising a corporate picnic? Let us handle everything for you — Get in touch with the catering experts at EatFirst today, or call us on 1300 851 900.

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