Set Catering for Film Productions in Vancouver

Vancouver's Film Industry Runs on Meals

Vancouver is Hollywood North. In 2025, BC hosted over 400 film and TV productions worth $4.2 billion. Every one of those productions needs to feed its crew, and union rules (IATSE, ACFC, DGC) are strict about meal timing. Break a 6-hour meal penalty rule and you are looking at overtime charges that dwarf the cost of good catering.

Most production managers rely on a small pool of established caterers. But those caterers are booked solid during peak season (April through October). That is where we come in, filling the gap with flexible, production-aware meal service.

Understanding Production Meal Requirements

Film set meals follow specific rules:

• First meal: Must be served within 6 hours of call time. For a 6 AM call, that means lunch by noon.
• Second meal: Required if the day goes beyond 12 hours. Usually served around 6-7 PM.
• Craft services: Continuous snacks, coffee, and drinks available throughout the day.

Our production catering packages start at $18/person for standard crew meals and $28/person for above-the-line talent meals. For a 50-person crew on a 14-hour day (two meals plus craft), budget roughly $2,200-2,800 per day. Plan your production budget with our Event Budget Planner.

On-Location Delivery Across Metro Vancouver

Productions shoot everywhere: Stanley Park, Burnaby's "The Bridge" studios, North Van forests, Richmond warehouses, Surrey neighborhoods. We deliver to any permitted shooting location in Metro Vancouver. For remote locations (Squamish, Whistler corridor), we arrange with 48-hour notice.

Our trucks carry hot-holding equipment and can set up a buffet line in under 10 minutes. We bring our own tables, serving equipment, and waste bins. Your locations department does not need to plan for us.

Handling Diverse Crews

A typical Vancouver film crew includes people from dozens of cultural backgrounds. Dietary requirements are wide-ranging: halal, kosher, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and various cultural preferences. We build custom menus for each production, rotating through 40+ recipes per week so crews never eat the same meal twice in a 5-day shoot week.

Map your crew's dietary mix with our Dietary Planner before the first day of principal photography.