Top Rated Local® is pleased to announce that, thanks to their many positive reviews and impressive Rating Score™, Amici Catering is a two-time award-winner in Arizona.
The food is the most important part of any event, and when you want a catering company in Arizona that will satisfy your taste buds and make your event stand out, there’s no better option than Amici Catering — they even catered the VIP room at the Super Bowl!
Amici Catering serves its clients with a focus on community and tolerance, and that has helped them earn more than 100 outstanding online reviews, a Rating Score that any business would envy and two 2018 Top Rated Local awards.
Here’s just one of their many five-star reviews:
“Amazing, amazing food!!! I contacted Amici Catering at the last minute, needing help with a retreat luncheon. The chicken parmesan, Napa Valley salad and broccoli noodles were a huge hit. Amici [was] also accommodating with gluten-free preparation. [The] pricing was very reasonable.” – Carmen V
What’s their secret to success? We sat down with Co-Owner and CEO, Lori Harlig, to find out. Here’s what she thought we should know.
What is your secret to such a strong online reputation?
Our secret to a strong online reputation lies in having a true passion for what we do and always being sincere and authentic with our clients.
We have been fortunate to be in the valley for more than 30 years. We had a restaurant, called Tucchetti’s, years ago, and people still remember going there! We love our guests. Some of our catering guests went to Tucchetti’s for their high school prom, and now, we are catering their weddings — we can even remember their favorite dishes!
What makes you different? In other words, if you had one minute to sell somebody on why they should choose you, what would you say?
We have the best staff ever! My husband and I both have decades of experience in the restaurant business — we both started out as managers at another restaurant years ago — and this team is truly what makes Amici amazing. Some members of our staff have experience working in Beverly Hills, and others have been working with my husband and me for more 20 years, way back at Tucchetti’s. In everything we do, we aim to make our staff proud of where they work and who they work for.
Why do you do what you do? In other words, what is your mission and/or how do you attempt to make the world a better place?
Both my husband and I are third-generation veterans in the restaurant industry. We would honestly do this even if we didn’t get paid. We tell our kids, “Do something you are passionate about doing, and then give back to the community that allows you to do it.”
We have a passion for charity work, not just financially but also through our time. Our motto has been, “At Amici Catering, we are determined to operate our company as we live — ethically, community-consciously and from the heart”.
Outside of building a strong online reputation, what else do you do to market and grow your business?
We participate in community and charity events. We seek out the right people to work with based on shared values, and we build business networks around those relationships. We’ve done some work with The Knot, but we don’t do very much paid advertising at all.
What advice do you have for other businesses trying to build a strong online reputation and grow their business?
Having a strong brand right from the get-go saves you a lot of time and effort. You want to get the most out of those first few dollars as you possibly can. Establish a brand identity so your customers know exactly what they will get by hiring you — there’s no faking it if you don’t, at least not for long. Know who you are and who you want to be, and stay consistent with that voice. Lastly, pick the right partner. I am super fortunate that my partner in business is my partner in life.
Thank you so much, Lori, for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. And congratulations to you and the whole team at Amici Catering for being a two-time 2018 Top Rated Local award winner!
If you’re looking for an award-winning caterer in Arizona, or you’d like to learn more about Amici Catering, visit their website today!
