Gina’s Catering – 6 Years

“A catering company for common people.” That idea was the spark that led Gina Simpson to start her own catering business. Going strong since May 2012, Gina’s Catering still holds true to its core principal of helping people.

Simpson recalls that, during the planning phases of her daughter’s December 2011 wedding, she encountered an abundance of good caterers. However, she also noticed a lack of caterers offering everyday food. “I realized how many amazing caterers we have in the greater Little Rock area, but how very few had a menu of what we call ‘normal food,’” she says.

“I said to my family, ‘After the wedding, I am going to start a catering company that has excellent customer service and good normal food with a little twist.’ They basically answered with a resounding, ‘No, you’re not.’”

But Simpson persisted. Drawing from a passion for cooking and 10 years of experience in various aspects of the food service industry, Gina realized her culinary dream. “I wanted a catering company for common people. I opened in May 2012, and we are still going.”

What’s her secret to success? “We all want to be the best,” she says. “I think what sets us apart, from our operations manager to our kitchen staff, is they all care. They want everyone to love what they serve. We all want every single customer to feel like they are our only customer.”

It is her hope that all clients feel like guests at their very own events. “When you book with Gina’s you become a part of our family,” she says. “We know that planning a private party of corporate affair, small or large, can be stressful. Gina’s Catering can help so that you can relax.”

Gina’s Catering is known for putting a modern twist on classic comfort foods. The business ranges in services from small family meals to large events with hundreds of guests. Like any other business, Simpson hopes to continue on a path of growth. She also hopes to one day open “Gina’s Take Out” in response to requests for on-the-go meals and items needed quickly. “I hope I will one day be able to fulfill those needs.”

Simpson adds that she could not have stayed in business this long without the love and support of her family, including her parents, Robert and Angie Serio of Clarendon; her husband, Alan; daughter Sydney and husband Justin, along with two granddaughters Lyla and London; and her daughter, Anna, who works beside her every day as the business’s operations manager.

“I had the vision, but it’s my family and staff who brought Gina’s Catering to life and who now help me keep it going.”