It is the modern Office Manager’s nightmare. You have a critical strategy meeting booked for 12 PM. The calendar invite says 15 attendees.

Five are dialing in from home.
Three might “pop in” if their other meeting finishes early.
Seven are definitely in the room.

In the old days, you’d order a mixed sandwich platter for 15 and call it a day. But in 2026, ordering a large shared platter for a hybrid meeting is a recipe for disaster. If the “maybe” guests don’t show, you’re left with a mountain of wasted food. If everyone shows up, the “remote” participants watch awkwardly as the in-room team struggles with messy tongs and shared plates.

The dynamic has changed, and your catering strategy needs to change with it.

The solution isn’t to stop feeding the team; it’s to switch your format. Enter Individual Catering.

Why the “Shared Platter” is No Longer Good for Hybrid Meetings

Don’t get us wrong, we love a grazing table for a party. But for a boardroom meeting where half the team is on a screen, shared platters create friction.

The “Ghost” Headcount: If you order a platter for 10 and only 6 people are in the room, the leftovers sit there, sweating and unappealing.
The “Clatter” Factor: There is nothing worse for remote participants than hearing the clatter of plates, tongs, and unwrapping foil while they are trying to present.
Hygiene Anxiety: Post-2020, many people are still (rightfully) wary of communal food in small, enclosed meeting rooms.

The Solution: The “One-Box” Strategy

The most effective way to cater for a hybrid meeting in Brisbane is to switch to individual, self-contained portions. This solves the logistical headache instantly.

If a staff member calls in sick or decides to work from home last minute, their “Box” doesn’t go to waste. It remains sealed, hygienic, and can be easily given to another colleague or taken home by someone else for dinner.

Here are the three best formats for this strategy:

1. The “Ego Bowl” (For the Health-Conscious Team)

If your team is trying to avoid the post-lunch slump, heavy bread-based platters are the enemy.

The Fix: Individual Poke Bowls or Salad Bowls. These are compact, mess-free, and quiet to eat. Options like a Mexican Chicken & Rice or a Vegan Falafel Bowl look professional on a boardroom table and don’t require awkward plating up.

Why it works: It signals to the team that you care about their wellness, not just “filling a gap.”

2. The Individual Lunch Box (The All-Rounder)

Sometimes, you just need a classic lunch that covers all bases.

The Fix: A curated box containing a gourmet sandwich (e.g., Turkey & Cranberry on Sourdough), a fruit cup, and a small sweet treat.

Why it works: It feels like a “gift.” Opening a personal box is a better psychological experience for staff than picking the last egg sandwich off a tray. It also creates a clear start and end to the meal, keeping the meeting running on time.

3. The “Dietary Safe” Zone

Managing Gluten-Free (GF), Dairy-Free (DF), and Vegan requirements on a shared platter is a minefield of cross-contamination risks.

The Fix: With individual boxes, Jane’s Coeliac-safe salad is sealed and labelled specifically for her. There is zero risk of a stray crumb from a bread roll landing in her meal. This creates a level of psychological safety that allows your team to focus on the meeting, not their allergies.

Making Remote Staff Feel Included

One of the biggest complaints from remote employees is feeling like “second-class citizens” during hybrid sessions. While you can’t teleport food to their home office instantly, you can acknowledge the disparity.

Pro Tip: If you have a regular monthly All-Hands meeting, consider sending your remote workers a “Coffee Voucher” or a small snack hamper quarterly. It’s a small gesture that says, “We know you aren’t here for the lunch, but we value you.”

The Bottom Line

Hybrid meetings are unpredictable; your catering shouldn’t be. By switching to individual boxes and pots, you eliminate waste, improve hygiene, and make the Executive Assistant’s life infinitely easier.

Planning your next boardroom session? Ditch the guesswork. Browse our range of Corporate Lunch Options and ensure every team member—present or planned—gets a perfect meal.