If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the catering business, it’s that no two menus—and no two customers—are the same. Flexibility is key. Whether you’re serving boxed lunches, sandwich platters, or BBQ combos, your customers want choices. And let’s be honest: you don’t have time to deal with a rigid system that makes order-taking a headache.
That’s why we’ve rolled out Mix & Match Options—a game-changing feature that gives you complete control over how customers select their menu options.
Why We Built This Feature
Catering pros like you spoke up, and we listened!
Previously, when you enabled "Show quantity fields" for an option, customers or employees could select specific amounts of each option within a menu item. For example, if a BBQ meal for one guest included a drink, a customer ordering 5 meals could pick any combination of 5 drinks. This ensured precise portioning while giving customers some variety.
This feature still restricted customers from selecting independent amounts of their preferred items. Let's say you wanted to provide options for different types of sandwiches to choose from for a sandwich platter. If a customer ordered 1 sandwich platter, they could only select 1 sandwich choice for that platter—no more, no less.
Now? You can customize option selection rules to fit your menu, rather than forcing your menu to fit the system.
What Mix & Match Does
With Mix & Match Options, you have three different ways to control how customers select their menu choices.
Option 1: One Option Per Menu Item (The Classic Method)
This works just like before when selecting "Show quantity fields": the amount of options selected must match the amount of the parent item ordered. If you've got this enabled on any current menu items, this is the default and the functionality won't change in any way.
Ideal Scenario
This method works best when every ordered item requires a corresponding option, ensuring the selections are balanced.
Examples
- one drink per guest portion
- one sauce per rib order
Option 2: Limit the Number of Different Choices
Want to control how many different options can be picked, while still keeping the total selections tied to the quantity ordered? This is for you.
For example, a customer orders the Basic BBQ Bar for 5 guests, so he needs to select 1 meat choice for each guest, but you only allow 2 different types of meat to be selected.
Ideal Scenario
When you want to keep orders streamlined and manageable.
Examples
- Order 12 pasta entrees, but limit it to 2 different sauce options
- Order 8 boxed salads, but limit it to 2 different dressing choices
Option 3: Allow More Option Units Than Menu Items
Instead of a strict 1:1 ratio, customers can select more units of an option than menu items ordered.
For example, a customer orders 1 Sandwich Pack, but instead of just picking one sandwich type, they can choose up to 10 different sandwiches.
Ideal Scenario
Bulk orders where customers want variety.
Examples
- choose 30 cookies for a tray, up to 3 different flavors
- pick 50 chicken wings for a platter, up to 4 different sauce flavors
Real-Time Order Updates: No Guesswork, Just Seamless Selection
One of the best parts of Mix & Match Options is how seamless and intuitive it makes the ordering process—whether you’re an employee entering an order in the backend or a customer ordering online. The system updates in real time, giving immediate feedback if option limits are met or exceeded. When selections are correct, they turn green; if there’s an error, it’s visually flagged in red, making it easy to fix.
Quantities also adjust dynamically, so it’s a breeze to make updates on the fly and see what’s left to select. No more mental math or second-guessing—CaterZen takes care of the calculations, ensuring every order is streamlined and error-free.
How Mix & Match Works for Customers
Customers can clearly see how many options they need to select when ordering through your online ordering site. This prevents customers from accidentally over- or under-selecting items, making the checkout process smoother.
Why This Matters for You
We know that catering menus aren’t one-size-fits-all. What works for a BBQ joint doesn’t necessarily work for a deli. That’s why we built Mix & Match—to give you the flexibility you need to sell your food, your way.
And the best part? It’s available now! You can start using Mix & Match Options today by heading to your Menu Manager and updating your option groups.
Learn more about Mix & Match Options at our support article, or if you have any questions or need help getting set up, our support team is here for you—because your success is our success.
CaterZen’s Commitment to You
This isn’t just about software updates—it’s about giving you the tools to run a more efficient, customer-friendly catering operation. Mix & Match Options was built because you asked for it, and we’re committed to continuously improving CaterZen based on your needs.
For those who haven’t yet experienced the CaterZen difference, there’s no better time to start. Book a quick-start training session or sign up for a 30-day free trial to see how our tools can revolutionize your catering operations.
Let’s keep evolving, together. Happy catering!
