From your account you can start a new order, manage existing orders or update your account information.
Additional Resources
How to Order Online
Policies
Gourmet Dining’s catering policies will assist in guiding you through selecting menus and catering needs for your events at Rider University.
All external clients should work with Rider’s Conference Services Office to book events and place catering orders. Please contact the Associate Director of Conference Services at conferences@rider.edu or 609-896-7337. External clients will be contracted and billed through the Conference Services Office. One invoice will include all facilities rental fees, catering fees, etc.
For all internal clients, your order begins by confirming a location for the event. This should be done via Rider’s online scheduling tool, 25Live at https://25live.collegenet.com/rider.
Questions may be directed to the Scheduling Coordinator at 609-896-5326. Once you have received a confirmation of your room reservation, you may contact the Events and Conferences Manager at events@rider.edu or 609-896-7709 for your set up needs. Additional information about campus event planning may be found at http://www.rider.edu/offices-services/auxiliary-services/campus-event-planning.
Welcome to Catertrax, our online catering solution for ordering catering services at Rider University. The menu selection process is easy! All menus, including preset and build your-own, can be found on Catertrax to help you plan your event. Guests can also connect with the Catering Team on the 1st floor of the Bart Luedeke Student Center or 609-896-5274, prior to selecting menus on Catertrax.
If you are new to Catertrax, the first step will be to set up your account.
1. Any Rider University employee, department or student group may order catering billed through their University accounts. No personal checks, cash or credit card will be accepted for Catertrax purchases.
2. To set up a Catertrax account, go to https://www.ridercatering.catertrax.com. You will need to provide a rider.edu email address, the department budget code, and the rider.edu email address of department budget approver.
3. Select the Account Sign In/Register icon and create your login credentials.
1. To place your order, select items and packages for your event and fill in the appropriate information for the guest count. You will have the option to select items such as gluten free meals, linens, custom orders, etc. at this time. If you cannot find what you would like or want more ideas/suggestions, please contact the Catering Office, ridercatering@rider.edu and 609-896-5274.
3. Once you have selected all the items and/or packages for your event, click the shopping cart icon to check out. You will be prompted to then fill out your event information including event timing, guest count, location and you also be allowed to enter any special event details (i.e. meeting will be in progress, please use back door or please set linens by 9am).
4. On the final page you will need to enter your budget code and approver. A copy of your invoice will need to be sent to your selected budget approver. Select from the drop down box on the payment page. If you do not see your approver, please contact the Lisa Tindall, Budget Office, 609-896- 5018. The selected approver will be sent an invoice to confirm.
5. Your order will appear as Pending (purple pin) on your screen with an “U” for unapproved. Once the order is approved by your selected, the icon will change to “A”. The Catering Office will then change the Pending icon to Confirmed (green pin).
6. We recommend you reach out to the department budget approver to let them know there is a Catertrax order pending their review.
7. Once your order is approved, expect a member of our Catering Team to connect with you to confirm all the details of the event (e.g. programs, ceremonies, etc.). We will work with you to set up an event timeline to ensure the event service is smooth.
a. Room set ups – e.g. tables, chairs, podium, stage – should be arranged with Rider Event Operations at events@rider.edu. The Events and Conferences Manager will assist in developing a diagram of the room set up, which you should also share with our Catering Team. Under the set up tab on your order, you can upload a PDF, file or photo, with comments and instructions.
b. If you need to make any changes to your order after submission, please contact the Catering Department.
8. A member of the Catering Team will confirm with you the details and final count seventy-two hours before the event.
both you and your departmental budget approver will receive a final catering invoice. This will appear in your email inbox and linked to your Catertrax account for review. Any last minutes changes will be listed on this final invoice.
• If everything looks correct, you do not need to take any action.
• If there are any discrepancies, please contact our Catering Department directly.
With final catering invoices, you and your departmental budget approver have five business days to review. After that, it automatically goes to the Budget Office for processing and payment.
You may want to print or download a copy of your final invoice for your records. Your orders will also be retained in Catertrax for future use.
Standard:
Our standard level of service includes the delivery, set-up and clean-up of the food for your event. Our attendant will deliver the order, sets it up according to specifications using high-quality bio-degradable products, replenish as needed based on the order, and return at an agreed-upon time to retrieve any serviceware. This will be the standard of service for all events other than plated meals. Alternate serviceware is available at an additional cost. If you are seeking a plated meal or an event with additional services, the Catering Team will help guide you through adding or adapting the standard services. Please notify the catering office of any special dietary needs (e.g. vegetarian, gluten friendly) as part of the planning and ordering of your event.
Staffing Guide for All Styles Events:
• Buffets are priced at self-service with attendants replenishing the food on the line as needed during service.
• Served Buffets – 1 server is assigned per 25 guests and is not included in the price.
• Served Meals – 1 server is assigned per 20 guests and is included in the price.
• Passed appetizer events (cocktail parties, receptions) – 1 server is assigned per 25 guests and is included in the price.
• Carving stations – Server per station is included in the price.
Additional Servers and Event Support: If you’d like to request additional staff to support or provide continuous service to your event, the cost per server is $18.00 per hour.
Bartenders: Please see alcohol service below.
All food tables where the food is served from will be covered with white, black or cranberry linen at no charge. Buffet food tables will be draped. Traditional cranberry colored skirting available upon request. All standard seating tables and event rectangle table linens are available at the cost of:
$4.50 Per 90” Round table (black, white or cranberry)
$4.50 Per Rectangle event table (black, white or cranberry)
We are able to provide you a selection of many different styles of linens, napkins and skirting, to add different looks and themes to your event for an additional charge. A selection of these are located on Catertrax. We can also work through our vendors for an expanded selection of colors and styles of linens.
Our Catering Team will gladly provide you with information on additional services including flower, specialty linens, etc. Depending on the size and scope of your event, additional charges may apply for rental items (e.g. china, flatware, glassware, etc.) which are rented for larger parties with 200 people or more.
If you are interested in alcohol beverage service at your event, the service must abide by the Rider University alcohol policies and processes. An Alcohol Compliance Form approved by Auxiliary Services is required before your catering order can be approved. Gourmet Dining does not hold a liquor license, but will handle the coordination of services through an approved outside vendor.
The vendor that is used will invoice you separately for alcohol and bartenders, depending on the type of services requested. The vendor will advise on additional bartending staff and costs at the time of planning.
The Alcohol Compliance Form can be downloaded at: https://www.rider.edu/officesservices/auxiliary-services/campus-event-planning
In order to ensure the best possible service, place your order in Catertrax two weeks prior to your event. Then review and approve the order in Catertrax. If there are any problems with placing the online order, contact the Catering Team to assist in making those online orders.
The final guarantee is required three business days prior to your event. This number represents the minimum number of guests for which you will be charged.
We understand that some events may not be confirmed with this much advance notice. Please contact the Catering team via email or phone for any orders after this point.
Events cancelled less than 48 hours prior to the event, may be subject to cancellation fees. Contact If you have any questions regarding our catering services and policies, please contact the Catering Team at (609) 896-5274 or stop by our office on the 1st floor of the Bart Luedeke Student Center
