As long as there have been festive gatherings or civil events, there has been the need to feed the masses. The first recorded instances of catering date back to 4th century China. The Ancient Greeks were among the first people to provide hospitality services on a large scale as a business venture.

The Romans set up stations along roads used by Roman armies. These stations fed the Roman soldiers on their way to battle and on their way home. This was later expanded to Roman trade routes and eventually came to include anyone who traveled these roads.

Around 600 AD, roadside inns known as caravansaries were established to provide merchants and travelers a place to eat and rest as they journeyed through the Orient. Many were located along the Silk Road and the spice routs that linked Europe with the Near and Far East. Some caravansaries survive today in places like Iran and Turkey.

Further development of this trade flourished throughout the Middle Ages. The monasteries and eventually the church offered catering services to the Christians on their pilgrimage to the city of Rome. This led to an expansion of catering across the European continent.

The term “catering” was first coined by the Merchant Marines. Merchant ships were among the first vessels to employ catering officers. Their duties consisted of the purchasing of goods, food preparation, and service of meals and drink to officers, crew, and passengers. They were also responsible for various other duties related to the ship's function.