Frequently Asked Questions

Placing an Order

How far in advance must I place an order?

Order by 2:00 pm Sydney time on the business day before delivery. For Monday delivery, the cutoff is 2:00 pm Friday. Weekend delivery is by arrangement.

What are your standard delivery hours?

We deliver Monday to Friday between 7:00am and 6:00pm. Weekend deliveries available on request. Deliveries outside standard hours or on weekends cannot be booked automatically online; use Contact Us to request availability.

What if I need delivery outside standard hours or on a weekend?

Select your preferred date and time at checkout and submit an enquiry — our team will review and confirm whether the request can be accommodated. After-hours and weekend deliveries are assessed case by case and may incur an additional charge. We will advise before confirming.

Is there a minimum order value?

Yes — a minimum food order value of $100 + GST (excluding delivery fee) applies to all orders. If your requirements fall below this, please contact us to discuss options.

Can I order for an address outside your service area?

Our standard delivery service covers the greater Sydney metropolitan area. Use the Delivery Zone checker or the zone check at checkout to confirm coverage for your address. For addresses outside the standard area, you can submit a Delivery Request — our team will confirm feasibility and advise on any applicable surcharge within one business day.

Can I have multiple deliveries at different times in one order?

Yes. You can add multiple delivery times (drops) to a single order directly in your cart. This is particularly useful for conference days with morning tea and lunch, or deliveries to different floors or rooms at different times. Each delivery time incurs its own $12 delivery fee. Manage your delivery schedule in the cart before proceeding to checkout.

What if checkout will not accept my delivery timing?

Order by 2:00 pm Sydney time on the business day before delivery. For Monday delivery, the cutoff is 2:00 pm Friday. Weekend delivery is by arrangement. Please choose a delivery date and time that meets these requirements.

Delivery Timing

What delivery time should I choose for my meeting or event?

A little breathing room makes all the difference. For meetings and events, we recommend selecting a delivery time slightly ahead of when you plan to serve. This allows time for building access, lifts, reception handover and any unexpected delays — so your catering is ready before your guests are.

  • •Cold food (platters, salads, sandwiches, cold finger food): aim for delivery 30–60 minutes before your event start. A 9:00am meeting works well with an 8:30am delivery.
  • •Hot finger food: approximately 15 minutes before service, so items arrive close to serving temperature. A 9:00am meeting would suit an 8:45am delivery.
  • •Mixed orders: schedule to the cold-food guide (30+ minutes) — we coordinate hot food to arrive appropriately within that window.

At checkout, you can enter both your event start time and your requested delivery time — if they're close together, we'll suggest an earlier option for your convenience. The choice is always yours.

Can I choose an exact delivery time?

Yes — when setting up your delivery schedule in the cart or at checkout, you nominate a specific requested delivery time for each drop. We plan our routes around your requested time and treat it as your target window.

When will my cold food arrive?

For cold items — including platters, grazing boards, salads, sandwiches, and cold finger food — we may deliver up to one hour before your requested time. This ensures everything is safely in place and set up well before your meeting or event begins, giving you ample time to arrange presentation.

When will my hot food arrive?

For hot finger food, we aim to arrive approximately 15 minutes before your requested time so items are served at their best and don't sit for longer than necessary.

What if there are unforeseen delays on the day?

We take punctuality seriously and plan our schedule to arrive at or before your requested time. In the rare event of circumstances beyond our control — such as unexpected traffic, building access delays, or similar — a contingency of up to 15 minutes after your requested time may occasionally apply. We will always endeavour to keep you informed if a delay is anticipated.

What is the delivery fee?

Our standard delivery fee is $12 per delivery. If your order includes multiple delivery times or separate drop-off locations, each incurs its own $12 fee. The delivery fee is clearly shown in your cart and at checkout before you submit.

Amending & Cancelling

Can I make changes to a confirmed order?

Yes — confirmed orders can be amended up to 48 hours before the scheduled delivery time. Please contact us at alysha@zestcatering.com.au as soon as possible with the details of any changes. Amendments requested inside 48 hours cannot be guaranteed and are subject to our kitchen's production commitments at that point.

What is your cancellation policy?

Cancellation policy

  • More than 72 hours’ notice: Free cancellation.
  • 48–72 hours’ notice: Up to 25% of the total order value.
  • 24–48 hours’ notice: Up to 50% of the total order value.
  • Less than 24 hours’ notice: Up to 100% of the total order value.

Cancellation fees are limited to reasonable costs and losses incurred in connection with the confirmed order, including supplier commitments, food preparation and other unrecoverable expenses.

These percentages are maximums, not automatic charges. Zest assesses each cancellation, takes reasonable steps to minimise loss, and accounts for avoided costs, refunds, recoveries and amounts already retained. The same loss will not be recovered twice. Any assessed charge must not exceed either the applicable maximum or the reasonable costs and losses incurred.

All notice periods are calculated in actual elapsed hours from when Zest receives the cancellation request to the scheduled delivery time, not business days. At a shared boundary, the lower maximum applies: exactly 48 hours falls in the 48–72 hour band.

This policy does not affect customers’ rights under Australian Consumer Law.

Ordering lead times are separate from cancellation notice. Order by 2:00 pm Sydney time on the business day before delivery. For Monday delivery, the cutoff is 2:00 pm Friday. Weekend delivery is by arrangement. Requests outside the applicable lead time need manual approval.

Full Delivery, Cancellations & Refunds Policy

Please contact us at alysha@zestcatering.com.au as soon as possible if you need to cancel. See our Delivery, Cancellations & Refunds policy for the complete terms and Australian Consumer Law statement.

Dietary & Allergens

Do you offer halal catering?

Yes, we can help with halal dietary requirements. Our production partner advises that options can include chicken, turkey and smoked salmon sandwiches and wraps, plus vegetarian/vegan, chicken, turkey and seafood finger foods. Cooked meat dishes are advised as suitable except those containing pork, subject to the individual recipe and variant.

Baked goods are typically suitable, subject to ingredients and fillings. Pork-containing dishes are not halal. Rare roast beef is not confirmed and is excluded from our Halal selection. Assorted boxes and individual options need separate checks; this is not blanket approval.

Halal suitable reflects supplier advice reviewed against that product and variant—not formal halal certification. Certification requires current supporting documentation. Vegetarian or vegan labels alone do not establish halal suitability, and halal is not an allergen guarantee. Specific preparation, handling and cross-contact requirements must be confirmed separately.

Ask our team about a particular menu item or requirement, or view the Halal filter. If no suitable options are listed, please contact us before ordering.

How do I specify dietary requirements?

Dietary labels (such as Vegetarian, Vegan, No Added Gluten, and Dairy Free) are displayed on each product card and detail page. "No Added Gluten" means the recipe does not contain gluten ingredients, but preparation takes place in a shared kitchen. You can add specific requirements — including intolerances, preferences, and requests — in the special instructions field on each product, or in the overall Order Notes field at checkout. Our team carefully reviews every note.

Are allergens clearly labelled on your products?

Suitable items are clearly labelled throughout the menu. Our food is prepared in a commercial kitchen that handles common allergens including gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, and shellfish. While we take every reasonable precaution, we cannot guarantee the complete absence of allergens or prevent cross-contact. Guests with severe allergies or anaphylaxis risk should contact us directly before ordering so we can advise on the suitability of specific items.

Can dietary items be separately packaged and labelled?

Yes — where practical, we are happy to separately package and label items for specific dietary requirements or preferences. Simply include your request in the special instructions field for the relevant product or in the Order Notes at checkout. For example: "Please separately package the Spanakopita Triangles and label as vegetarian."

Quotes & Payment

Can I request a formal quote?

Yes. Contact us at alysha@zestcatering.com.au to request a formal, itemised quote. This is ideal for recurring catering requirements, larger events, or when you need to present a proposal for internal approval.

How does the quote and approval process work?

Once your quote is prepared, you receive a link to review it online. From there, you can:

  1. 1.Review the full itemised quote at your own pace.
  2. 2.Approve or decline the quote directly online.
  3. 3.On approval, an invoice is generated with payment instructions; quote approval alone does not confirm the order.
  4. 4.The order is confirmed when the invoice is paid in full, unless the Zest team expressly confirms it in writing sooner.

Please arrange payment promptly using the instructions on your invoice.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept both credit/debit card and direct bank transfer. Payment instructions — including our bank details for direct transfer and a card payment option — are provided on your invoice.

Online checkout submits an order request and the invoice follows. Quote-based orders receive an invoice after quote approval. Submitting checkout or approving a quote is a request, not a confirmed order. Unless the Zest team expressly confirms the order in writing sooner, it is confirmed only when the invoice has been paid in full. Contact us at alysha@zestcatering.com.au if you have any questions about payment.

Disposables & Extras

Are plates, napkins, cutlery, and straws included with my order?

Disposables are not included by default. We offer a range of biodegradable disposables — sugarcane plates, cocktail napkins, paper straws, and cutlery packs — which can be added separately from our Disposables range. Simply browse the category and add what you need to your cart.

Are drinks included with my order?

Drinks are not included automatically. We offer a curated range of soft drinks, juices, and water which can be added from our Drinks range. When you visit your cart with items already added, you may see a one-time prompt to explore our Drinks and Disposables ranges — this appears once per session and is easy to skip if you've already planned those separately.

Canapé Packages & Events

Do you supply tables, chairs, chafing dishes, or other event hire equipment?

Event hire equipment — including tables, chairs, chafing dishes, chafer stands, glassware, service furniture, linen, and similar items — is outside the scope of what we supply. Our catering packages include everything needed to prepare and serve the food: all catering equipment, serving ware, crockery and napkins are provided by us as part of the service.

If you need event hire items to complete your setup, our team is happy to point you in the right direction. We can suggest suitable local event hire suppliers upon request — the hire arrangement, availability, pricing, delivery, collection and payment are then managed directly between you and your chosen supplier.

Simply mention your hire requirements when you get in touch at alysha@zestcatering.com.au and we will do our best to assist.

Do you supply alcohol?

No — Zest Events & Catering does not supply, sell, or purchase alcoholic beverages on behalf of customers. The drinks available to order through our website are non-alcoholic: soft drinks, juices, and water only.

For events, customers are welcome to arrange their own alcoholic beverages independently. Where staffing has been engaged for an event, our appropriately qualified and RSA-approved staff can serve the customer's beverages during the event, subject to staffing availability and any requirements of the venue or event. Please raise beverage service arrangements when requesting a package quote and we will confirm what can be accommodated.

What events catering do you offer?

Our event catering menu includes buffet and banquet-style options where listed, as well as canapé packages. Event package and buffet minimums: Christmas Buffet Lunch — 12 guests; Signature Event Packages — 20 guests; Asian Buffet Catering — 25 guests; Diwali Banquet — 25 guests; Mexican Taco Station — 25 guests; Italian Buffet Catering — 25 guests. Each product page shows its minimum. The current canapé service is available in two formats — a 2-hour package and a 3-hour package. Package details, service scope and availability are shown on the menu or confirmed in a written quote. Please contact us if you need help choosing an option.

Account Credits

What is an account credit?

An account credit is a monetary value applied to your account by Zest Events & Catering — for example, as a goodwill gesture, a service adjustment, or a correction relating to a previous order. Credits appear on your account automatically and are there for you to use on your next eligible order.

Account credits are separate from referral reward codes. They are issued directly by our team and do not require any action on your part to receive or apply.

Do I need to enter a code or do anything to use my credit?

No — nothing at all. If you have an account credit, it is applied automatically to your next eligible order at checkout. You will see it listed as a line item in your order summary before you confirm. There is no code to enter and no steps to take.

What if my credit is worth more than my order?

Only the amount needed to cover your order is used. The remaining balance stays on your account and automatically applies to your subsequent orders, in the same way, until the credit is fully exhausted. You can see your current balance on your account page.

Can I choose to save my credit and not apply it to a particular order?

Account credits are applied automatically to your next eligible order and cannot be held back, deferred, or skipped. This is intentional — credits are issued to benefit you on your catering, not to accumulate indefinitely. If you have a specific concern about timing, please get in touch at alysha@zestcatering.com.au and we will do our best to assist.

Can I transfer my credit to someone else or redeem it for cash?

No. Account credits are attached to your individual account and are not transferable to another person or account. They cannot be redeemed for cash, combined with other accounts' credits, or manipulated to create a cash value. They exist solely to offset the cost of your catering with us.

What happens to my credit if I cancel an order it was applied to?

If you cancel or are legitimately refunded for an order to which a credit was applied, the applicable portion of the credit is returned to your account — it is not forfeited. The restored credit then applies to your next eligible order in the usual way.

Credit restoration is subject to our standard cancellation policy. Where a cancellation fee applies (see Amending & Cancelling above), the overall refund calculation takes precedence and the credit is restored accordingly.

Do account credits expire?

Account credits issued by Zest Events & Catering do not expire. They remain on your account until fully used. If you have any concerns about your credit balance, please contact us at alysha@zestcatering.com.au.

Account & Reordering

Do I need an account to place an order?

No — you can browse the menu and place a delivery order as a guest without creating an account. However, creating a free account gives you access to order history, saved delivery profiles, and favourites, making repeat ordering significantly faster and more convenient.

How do I save my favourite products?

When signed in, click the heart icon on any product card or detail page to save it to your Favourites. Your favourites are accessible from your account at any time, making it easy to quickly build repeat orders around your preferred items.

Can I add notes specific to individual products?

Yes. Each product detail page has a Special Instructions field where you can leave notes for that specific item — such as presentation preferences, dietary flags, or specific requests. For notes that apply to the whole order or delivery, use the Order Notes field at checkout.

How is the "price per guest" figure calculated?

When you enter a guest count in your cart, we divide the total order value (food subtotal including GST, plus delivery fee) by the number of guests to give you an at-a-glance cost per person. This is an indicative figure to assist with event budgeting — it updates automatically as you adjust quantities or add items.