Our FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about EatFirst and the services we provide, including corporate catering, kitchen supplies and corporate event management. If you have any further queries, please call us on 1300 851 900 or get in touch with our foodie experts online. Alternatively, you can check out our Help Center, which will provide you with all the support you need.

The EatFirst basics

What is EatFirst?

Launched in Sydney in 2000, we make it easy to organise food and kitchen supplies for the office. You don’t have to spend hours searching on Google and calling office caterers or suppliers – our single platform makes it easy to find and order corporate catering anywhere in Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, the Gold Coast and Newcastle. Learn more about our new name here.

Where are you located?

Our head office is located in North Sydney, but we have offices, corporate caterers and kitchen suppliers all around Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth.

How many caterers do you have?

We have over 800 corporate caterers around Australia and growing every week! You’ll have the opportunity to try new cuisines and delicious menus every week.

Do you just serve lunch?

We do more than just office lunch catering! We also offer fresh and delicious corporate breakfast catering, morning teas, afternoon teas and birthday cake celebrations. If your team is working late in the office, we have dinner options, such as pizza catering, Asian or pasta.

We can also help with corporate events and plan everything from start to finish. A gourmet corporate breakfast for the CEO and staff, corporate BBQ catering at the park, gourmet finger food and drinks for a cocktail party, a buffet for a conference or boardroom catering for VIPS – we’ll make your event memorable and stress-free!

Is your 100% guarantee for real?!

Yes, it’s true! We offer a 100% guarantee that your office catering will arrive on-time and look and taste great. If you’re not happy with your order when it arrives, give us a call on 1300 851 900 and we’ll get this sorted for you.

Who do I call if I need help with a menu, require a custom food order or a quote?

We will gladly help you with all your office catering needs. We can also customize a menu to suit your event, or provide an obligation free, comprehensive and competitive quote. Please give us a call on 1300 851 900, enquire online and one of our consultants will be more than happy to assist.

How do you select which caterers you work with?

We work with independent food producers all around Australia, from small local restaurants to specialist corporate caterers. We work with business owners who are passionate about their food and are dedicated to delivering the best possible experience to corporations, just as we are.

Corporate catering - Your Account

I’ve forgotten my password. How do I reset my password?

Click on the ‘Sign in’ link at the top right hand corner of the browser. On the left hand side under the existing users login section, click on the ‘Forgot password?’ link above the password field. A pop-up will appear asking you to enter your email address. An email with instructions on how to reset your password will be sent to you.

Do I have to register to order?

Yes, we will need to register for an account to make a corporate catering order. It’s very simple to order - simply add items to your cart and when you're ready to checkout, you'll be asked to enter your email and password.

We do recommend setting up an account, so you can view past orders, set up recurring orders, favourite and re-order, favourite your preferred supplier, order from your saved address book, track spend and more. To register for a free login, visit our registration page.

Can I see what my work colleagues have ordered in the system?

Unfortunately, you will not be able to view your colleague’s orders unless you are a master user. We recommend getting your colleague to email the order confirmation to you.

Can I share my profile with my colleagues at work?

We recommend each user have their own profile/account login, so you can track orders. If you job share, you can share your email address and password, just remember to update the delivery contact!

Corporate catering - Orders

How do I begin placing orders?

It’s so easy to get started. Simply visit www.eatfirst.com/au and enter the delivery address in the search field on the homepage. Click the ‘order now’ button to get a list of corporate caterers delivering to that area.

Once you have made your menu selection, click on the continue button at the bottom of the page, or click the checkout button at the top right hand corner of the browser. If you are an existing user, please enter your email and password details or you can continue to order as a guest. Follow the steps to place an order.

Can I get an order delivered to a different location/office?

Yes of course!  Simply visit www.eatfirst.com/au and enter the new address where the food will be delivered to and click on the ‘order now’ button. You will be presented with the best local corporate caterers available for that location.

What if I’m not around when my order arrives?

During the checkout process, you’ll have the option to change the primary contact person’s details, or you can include the name of the person who will be receiving the order in the delivery instructions field. Alternatively, you can also give us a call on 1300 851 900 or email orders@eatfirst.com.au to let us know who will be there on the day and we’ll ensure that the driver is aware.

Is there a minimum order?

Yes, there may be a minimum order, but this will depend on the caterer.

Do you cater for special dietary requirements?

Yes, we absolutely do! We have a wide variety of special dietary menu options available, including vegetarian, vegan, dairy free and gluten free.

Do you offer halal food?

Yes, some of our corporate caterers offer halal sensitive options. For more information, or for a full list of halal office caterers, please call 1300 851 900 and one of our consultants will be able to assist.

How much lead-time is required for ordering?

Lead time requirements will vary depending on the caterer. We do recommend giving as much lead time as possible, but most orders can be placed the day before delivery is required. If you require office catering urgently on the day, we do offer an Express Service, where we can assist with simple catering requests with just 90 - 120 minutes lead. Call 1300 851 900 and one of our customer service consultants will be more than happy to help.

Can I place orders in advance?

Absolutely! You can place your order days or even months in advance and you can rest assured that we’ll stay on top of all future orders. And best of all, your credit card will only get charged the day after delivery.

How do I cancel an order?

For orders less than $500, cancellations can be made up to 48 hours prior to the requested delivery date. Orders greater than $500 require a minimum 72 hours cancellation notice.

Cancellation fees may apply for orders cancelled after the above times, based on expenses incurred by EatFirst or the caterer. We will do our best to minimise these charges for you. Please refer to our terms and conditions for more details.

Who do I call if the order is running late?

If your order has not arrived at the delivery time requested, please call us at 1300 851 900.

How can I get in contact with the caterer or restaurant?

If you have questions about your order, please contact us at 1300 851 900.

Who prepares and delivers the food?

We have partnered with best-in-class corporate caterers with proven expertise in the production and delivery of delicious food to businesses. Therefore, these caterers will be preparing and delivering your order to your office.

Can I place an order with two different caterers, or have them on the one order?

Unfortunately this is not possible. You will need to complete two different orders for each caterer.

Can I place an order without setting up an account?

If you do not have a login, you will be asked to enter a password and register for an account when you proceed to checkout. It's super easy to register and best of all, it allows you to edit your order, re-order, view invoices and more.

Nothing is showing up in my suburb, or my favourite caterer/restaurant is not listed.

We’re working hard to get more corporate caterers on-board. If your favourite restaurant isn’t listed, tell us about it by emailing orders@eatfirst.com.au, or call 1300 851 900. We’ll track them down and see if we can get them on board for you.

If you’re not sure what caterers deliver to your area or nothing is showing up, call us on 1300 851 900 and one of our catering consultants will be happy to help.

How do I know when my order is confirmed?

You will receive a confirmation email with an order number. If you have not received a confirmation email within 24 hours of placing your order, please call us on 1300 851 900. Please refer to our terms and conditions for more details.

Can I modify my order?

Yes, it’s really simple to modify your order. You can either do this yourself online via our online platform, or give us a call on 1300 851 900 and one of our consultants will be more than happy to make those changes for you.

To modify your order online:

  • Log into your account
  • Hover over your name in the top right hand corner of the browser and click on ‘My Orders’
  • Find the order and choose the modify button to start adding or removing items or to modify quantities

Please note that any changes made within 72 hours prior to delivery may not be accepted. Please refer to our terms and conditions for more details.

Corporate catering - Payment

How can I pay?

EatFirst accepts all major credit cards. Credit card payments will incur a merchant bank fee. Visa and MasterCard incur a 1.40% excluding GST merchant fee. American Express and Diners Club cards incur a 2.30% excluding GST merchant bank fee.

Please note that payments are net 7 days. A deposit may be required on certain orders. Invoices are sent to your email address. Please refer to our terms and conditions for more details.

Can I pay via EFT?

Once your credit application has been approved by our finance department, you will be able to pay via EFT. Please contact our customer service team on 1300 851 900 if you require further information.

How can I get a copy of the invoice resent to me?

Please email orders@eatfirst.com.au and one of our customer service consultants will be able to assist. A copy of your invoice will be emailed to you as a pdf.

When will my credit card be charged?

Your credit card will be charged the day after your order has been delivered.

Kitchen supplies

How does it work?

Once our quote has been accepted and we have confirmed all the necessary details, we will set up your account (if required) and upload your orders into our online portal.

You will receive an email with login details to our online portal, where you will have the ability to view and manage your orders online.

Once the order is entered into our system, you can “set and forget”. This means that any orders that occur on a regular basis, like weekly milk deliveries, office fruit or restocking of office pantry supplies, will simply recur on an ongoing basis – they will get delivered to your office every week, so you don’t need to worry about a thing!

The only time any action is required from you, is if and when you wish to alter the order. You can do this yourself via our online portal (it’s really very simple), by speaking to your dedicated consultant on 1300 851 900 or emailing orders@eatfirst.com.au and we’ll be more than happy to make these changes for you.

How much lead-time is required for ordering kitchen supplies?

Most deliveries can be made within 48 hours of receiving your order. If your request is urgent, please call 1300 851 900 to speak to our kitchen supplies consultant.

Can I modify my order?

Yes, of course you are welcome to make changes to your order! Just give us a call on 1300 851 900 and we’ll happily assist you with the changes.

Please note that changes made 24 hours prior to delivery may not be accepted. Give us a call on 1300 851 900 and we will do our best to facilitate these changes.

Who do I call if there is a problem?

If you have any problems with your order, please call 1300 851 900 and one of our kitchen supplies consultants will be able to assist.

Can I change my order?

Yes, absolutely! We have a sophisticated online portal that is very user friendly and allows you to amend orders yourself. Alternatively, you can call us on 1300 851 900 or email orders@eatfirst.com.au and one of our dedicated consultants will be more than happy to assist.

Can I pay on account?

Accounts can be set up for customers who anticipate their monthly spend to be greater than $300.

Credit card payments will be set up for monthly spends that are less than $300. If this is not a viable option, please speak with your dedicated kitchen supplies consultant on 1300 851 900 to make other arrangements.

What happens to my order during public holidays?

With the approach of every public holiday, we will send you a notice of how we intend to manage your orders on your behalf. For example, we can move the order to another day. You will have the opportunity to accept what we have arranged, or tweak it to suit your needs. You can do this via our online portal or speak directly with your dedicated kitchen supplies consultant on 1300 851 900, and they will make these changes for you.

Kitchen supplies - office milk

What is the minimum delivery for milk?

The minimum amount of office milk that can be delivered is 18 litres. Or 6 litres when you order fruit as well.

How much is the milk?

At EatFirst, we aim to find you the best office milk delivery deal for your needs. Please give us a call on 1300 851 900 for a free quote.

Are there any delivery fees?

Delivery fees only apply to orders under 12 litres. For more information, please call us on 1300 851 900.

Is there a contract?

No! You are not locked into anything and you can cancel your orders at anytime, provided it’s within the required cut off times.

How often do you deliver milk?

Our drivers deliver 5 days a week, Monday to Friday. However, this will vary depending on the area.

Based on your quantities/requirements, we will tailor a corporate milk solution to meet your needs. Please give us a call on 1300 851 900 or email orders@eatfirst.com.au and one of our kitchen supplies consultants will be able to confirm delivery frequency.

Can you deliver within business hours?

Yes, in some areas we will be able to deliver within business hours. We do recommend providing us with out of hours access, so we’re able to stock your fridge during the night and you never have to worry about running out of milk.

Can I have my milk delivered on a Monday?

Yes, absolutely, but please note that this will depend on your location and accessibility. Rest assured that we will be able to tailor a solution that meets your needs.

What milk brands do you stock?

We can source many brands, including Dairy Farmers/Pura, Norco, Pauls and Procal.

How long are the use by dates?

All our milk comes with a minimum of 8 days shelf life.

What time do you deliver?

Our drivers deliver any time from midnight to midday, depending on your location and requirements. If you have a preferred time, please speak to one of our kitchen supplies consultants on 1300 851 900 and we’ll be able to tailor a solution to suit your needs.

Kitchen supplies - office fruit

What’s the minimum number of fruit I can order?

The minimum number for office fruit delivery is 33 pieces of fruit.

Can I make my own fruit selection?

Yes, fruit preferences are available, or we will be more than happy to choose for you based on season and popularity.

How much is office fruit?

Pricing will vary depending on volume, but rest assured that we have the best pricing and we’ll tailor a corporate fruit solution to meet your needs. Just give us a call on 1300 851 900, or email orders@eatfirst.com.au to speak to one of our consultants.

How often do you deliver office fruit?

Our drivers deliver 5 days a week, however this will vary depending on the area.

Based on your quantities and requirements, we will tailor an office fruit solution to meet your needs. Please feel free to call us on 1300 851 and one of our kitchen supplies consultants will be able to provide you with more details

Can you deliver fruit to my office within business hours?

Yes, absolutely, office fruit delivery is available during business hours, but please note that this will depend on your location. We recommend providing us with out of hours access to your office, so the fruit is waiting in your kitchen when you arrive in the morning. Please don’t hesitate to call us on 1300 851 900 and we’ll be more than happy to tailor a solution that suits your needs.

Can I have my fruit delivered to the office on a Monday?

Yes, corporate fruit delivery is available on Monday in most areas. Please speak to one of our kitchen supplies consultants on 1300 851 900 for more information and rest assured that we’ll be able to tailor a solution to suit your needs and requirements.

What time do you deliver the fruit?

Our drivers will deliver the fruit any time from midnight to midday, depending on your location and requirements. Please don’t hesitate to call us on 1300 851 900 if you have a preference and we’ll happily find a solution to suit your needs and requirements.

What happens if my delivery falls on a public holiday?

Depending on the public holiday and the day the delivery falls on, there may be a delivery schedule change. These changes will depend on your type of delivery, your location and the day of your delivery.

Rest assured that we will email you a few weeks before the public holiday advising of the changes that may occur.

If you have any questions, please contact the Kitchen Supplies team on 1300 851 900, and press option 2, or email us at kitchensupplies@eatfirst.com.au

Corporate events and functions

What is your event management fee?

Our event management fee is a set 10% of your total costs charged onto your order. This fee covers:

  • The quotes our events team prepare for you (in normal circumstances, you will receive 3 x quotes from different suppliers)
  • Your event manager managing your event from start to finish, including confirmations, schedules, providing a brief to your on-site crew and working the function

If you have any further questions, or would like more information, please give us a call on 1300 851 900 to speak to our corporate events team.

How many wait staff/chefs need to be hired for my event?

Below are more details on the various occasions and the staff to guest ratio. If you have any further questions, or would like more information on hiring staff for your function, please feel free to speak to our corporate events team on 1300 851 900.

Cocktail parties
1 waiter: 25 guests
1 chef: 50 guests

Sit-down events
1 waiter: 10 guests
1 chef: 10 guests

Corporate BBQ events
1 waiter: 25 guests
1 chef: 50 guests

Buffet
1 waiter: 25 guests
1 chef: 25 guests

Is there a minimum amount of time I can hire staff for?

Yes, all staff are hired on a minimum hour shift.

  • NSW: Minimum 4 hour shift
  • VIC: Minimum 4 hour shift
  • SA: Minimum 3 hour shift
  • QLD: Minimum 4 hour shift
  • ACT: Minimum 4 hour shift

Please note:

  • You will need to add travel time for all locations outside of the CBD
  • After hours surcharge apply
  • We bring in staff 1 hour prior to your event time for set up, plus 1 hour after the function for pack down

When does equipment hire get delivered?

All equipment is delivered either in the morning (between 9am-1pm) or afternoon (between 12pm-4pm).

We recommend your equipment hire comes in the day prior to your event and is picked up the day after.

How much alcohol should I order for my event?

We recommend basing your alcoholic beverage consumption on roughly 3 drinks per person for the first hour and then 2 drinks per person for each hour after that.

Your guests will also appreciate non-alcoholic beverages, including mineral water, soft drinks and juice. Beverage selection for events should consist of a combination of beer (full strength and light), white wine, red wine, sparkling wine, sparkling mineral water, and a selection of soft drinks and juices.

The most popular wines to serve are:

  • White: Sauvignon Blanc
  • Red: Cabernet Sauvignon

Note: You can get approximately 6 glasses of wine out of a standard sized wine bottle. 24 bottles of beer come in a case.

Our corporate functions and events team will be able to provide you with more details and recommend a corporate drinks package that suits your needs and budget. Simply give us a call on 1300 851 900 or email orders@eatfirst.com.au to get started.

How much lead time do I need to provide you for my event?

As these functions can be complex and require a number of suppliers and caterers, we recommend 7-10 days notice is given. However, we will do our best and work with as much lead time as you are able to provide.

What if I can’t find the menu I want?

Please give the EatFirst event managers a call on 1300 851 900 or email orders@eatfirst.com.au and we will happily source a menu that suits your needs and budget. We want to make sure that your event is amazing!

Do you provide services that are not listed on your website?

Yes, absolutely! Need a coffee cart or a jumping castle for the kids? How about a gelato cart for your summer corporate event, or children’s entertainment? We can source anything for you! Just give the EatFirst event managers a call on 1300 851 900 or email orders@eatfirst.com.au and we’ll take it from there!

How do I cancel an order?

We do require a minimum of 5 working days notice for cancellations to be accepted. Melbourne Cup lunch orders require a minimum 7 working days notice for cancellations to be accepted. Orders cancelled after the above days may incur charges based on expenses incurred by EatFirst or the supplier. We will do our best to minimise these charges for you.

Who do I call if there is a problem?

If you have any problems with your order, please call 1300 851 900 or email orders@eatfirst.com.au to speak to one of our corporate event managers.