Bringing Small Restaurants into the Corporate Catering Game

Small Business Spotlight: Phoodeez

Who: Christine Marcus, and Sal Lupoli, @Phoodeez

What: Online catering service

When: Started 2011

How: Marcus, former deputy CFO of the U.S. Department of Energy, and Lupoli, a Boston restaurant entrepreneur, met several years ago while completing mid-career MBAs at MIT.

“We were thinking of how we could extend my existing businesses in and around the Cambridge area,” Lupoli said. “Catering is so lucrative, but it’s really tough to get into.” So they created their company, which they say vets local small businesses for corporate catering opportunities and connects them with customers.

Phoodeez relies heavily on social media and reviewing for its business model, and includes customer reviews on its site.

Quote from the owner: “We get the right amount of food without wasting money or time,” Marcus said.

We’re highlighting small businesses from around the country as nominated by you, our readers. If your favorite small business is using Twitter to communicate with customers, let us know about it @fbsmallbiz with the hashtag #mysbc, and it may be featured as an upcoming Small Business Spotlight.