TRUSTED SASKATOON RECOGNIZES OUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE BEEN TRUSTED FOR OVER 10 YEARS!
In this series of articles, we continue to shine a bright spotlight on the businesses that have been Trusted Saskatoon partners for over ten years. This year, we recognize the Trusted Saskatoon Partners that joined us in 2013. We want to thank them for TRUSTING our team, and we are identifying each of them individually for providing ten years of OUTSTANDING service to the citizens of Saskatoon and the surrounding area! The latest article celebrates and recognizes PickNic's Catering & Fine Foods - Trusted Saskatoon Caterers for over ten years!
Celebrating a Decade of Excellence: PickNic's Catering, a Trusted Saskatoon Caterer
PickNic's Catering & Fine Foods has been a trusted name in Saskatoon for culinary excellence for over 20 years. As we celebrate them reaching their 10-year milestone with Trusted Saskatoon, we take a journey through their inspiring story of passion, dedication, and community involvement.
PickNic's Catering traces its roots back to April 2003, when it started operating as PickNic's Bakery and Bistro. It wasn't long before their delectable offerings gained a dedicated following. In 2004, they moved to 22nd Street East and rebranded themselves as PickNic's Restaurant and Fine Pastries, where they continued to delight patrons with their sumptuous pastries and exquisite dishes for the next five years.
In 2009, PickNic's embarked on a new chapter as they moved to 33rd Street West. With this transition, they redirected their focus towards event catering and crafting wedding cakes that would leave a lasting impression. This change in direction marked the beginning of a new era for the establishment, one that would see them become a cherished fixture in Saskatoon's catering landscape.
Nicola Lawson
At the heart of PickNic's Catering is the passionate and talented owner Nicola Lawson. Nicola's journey to Saskatoon was marked by many globetrotting adventures, working at various establishments worldwide within the food industry. Her travels eventually brought her to Saskatoon, where she decided to put down roots and share her culinary expertise with the local community.
Nicola is not just a culinary expert; she's also deeply involved in the community professionally and personally. Her engagement with numerous organizations and smaller community groups reflects her commitment to making a positive impact. As a mother of two girls, Nicola is equally passionate about shaping a bright future for them, emphasizing exposure to travel, language, diverse extracurricular activities, and multicultural events.
Krista Fehr
More recently, the dynamic Krista Fehr joined the PickNic's team. With over 25 years of experience in the foodservice industry and a Red Seal journeyperson cook, Krista brought some fresh energy to this culinary catering dream team alongside Nicola. Together, they've brought creativity and innovation to the business, enhancing its reputation for excellence.
What PickNic's Clients Say...
" It was absolutely fantastic to work with PickNic's. They've got an excellent system in place on the website, and even went above and beyond by taking the time to consult with me one on one. In the end the selections suggested were perfect for our gathering and the quality of food was superb. I highly recommend PickNic's... they're masters of food and customer service." - Warren Todosichuk
" PickNic'scatered our wedding, and OH MY GOD, IT WAS SOOO GOOD. Every single one of our guests raved about how good it was! Some even said it was better than their own wedding/weddings they had attended recently! Nicola and Krista and the gang made it super easy for us! From the dish rental to the bartending to the meal to the cake to the donuts, everything was absolutely perfect! And they made it so easy for our guests with allergies, intolerances, or dietary restrictions to navigate the buffet! The service was amazing from beginning to end. Worth every single penny! My only regret is that I didn't eat more (adrenaline and excitement made for a not super hungry tummy) or get any pictures of our meal, but that is, entirely, my own mistake. Thank you again! It was the happiest day and it was in part because of you and your team!" ❤️Krystina Micucci
Nicola & Krista Share What It Means To Be a Trusted Saskatoon Partner
"We are so proud to be an integral part of an amazing group of business owners that are as dedicated to quality, honesty and positive client experiences as PickNic’s Catering. "
A word from Sara, the Trusted Saskatoon founder, about her personal experience with PickNic's
"To be in business for 20 years with the ups and downs of the economy is hard enough, to have to then deal with Covid, which hit the hospitality and food industry particularly hard… and to have survived intact is a testament to Nicola, Krista and the PickNic’s team. A huge part of why they have been so successful comes from their passion, quality, service and commitment to striving to be the best caterer in Saskatoon. PickNic’s has catered many of my special events - personally and for Trusted over the last ten years. From smaller client and team meetings to significant milestone events, including my 40th birthday, where she knocked it out of the park with a British-themed menu that was the talk of the party! I have never been disappointed with the choices, food quality or fantastic personal service.” - Sara Wheelwright
PickNic's Catering is more than just a business; it's a respected household name in Saskatoon. Over the years, their commitment to quality, creativity, and community engagement has made them an integral part of the city's fabric.
In celebrating PickNic's Catering's 10-year milestone, we acknowledge their remarkable culinary achievements and their positive impact on Saskatoon and the communities they've touched. Here's to a decade of excellence and the expectation of much more to come as PickNic’s continues to lead the catering industry in Saskatoon and area.
'TASTE THAT DELIVERS!'
Being a Trusted Partner on the Trusted Saskatoon Directory of Excellence comes with a lot of responsibility - no other directory, advertising company, or 'watchdog organization' puts businesses through the ongoing process we do before we promote and endorse them.
Why Choose a Business On the Trusted Saskatoon Directory?
All of the Trusted Saskatoon partners have to pass a unique verification process, they are then annually contracted to uphold our 5 Trusted Guarantees. The partners then become part of a local community of Saskatoon and area businesses that we promote with a strong local marketing campaign. We also have a Trusted MYSTERY SHOPPER PROGRAM. This is where we find and engage with normal everyday people, just like you, who are looking for products and services in Saskatoon and area. We approach individuals we can see are looking for a local business and we ask them to mystery shop Trusted Saskatoon Partners. Those that agree to be Trusted mystery shoppers go about their usual business, except at the end they fill out a report to tell us about the experience. We then share it with you! We are thrilled to share our latest mystery shop.
PickNic's Catering and Fine Foods are Trusted Saskatoon caterers!
Date of Mystery Shop: August 2022
Shopper : Ezna
MYSTERY SHOP CHECKLIST:
1. How was the greeting/ welcome/ call answered? Friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful.
2. Appearance of the store/staff and showroom? When I picked up my birthday cake, I was impressed with the elegance of the storefront.
3. If a quote was required, was it well laid out/ clear? I asked for an estimate and it was clear.
4. Overall experience 1-10. 9 out of 10
5. Would you return as a customer/ recommend them to close friends? Yes, already did
6. Did anyone stand out as exceptional? If so who? Why? Owner offered extra finishing touches when I picked up the cake, and carried it to the car.
TRUSTED GUARANTEES
1. Provide the service and quality promised - 10
2. Complete the job on time - 10
3. Charge the price quoted with NO surprises - 10
4. Communicate honestly and be responsive to customer needs - 10
5. Resolve any issues with customer satisfaction in mind - 10
Ezna shared picture of the 2 cakes, and as always, they look amazing!
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
Everybody absolutely loved the cupcakes and icing !
Unfortunately I never got to taste the large carrot cake birthday cake because my daughter and I gave it away to a gal whose mom couldn’t afford a cake and also celebrated her bday at the party.
Apparently her face lit up when she saw cake So was worth it
It’s my compassionate daughter Alicia who heard about this and came and pitched the idea to me and how could I say no? Made me happy to see my daughter flow like that and to brighten someone else’s day - Ezna ( Mystery Shopper & birthday girl)
WHAT A GREAT GESTURE EZNA & A WONDERFUL MYSTERY SHOP NICOLA & TEAM!!!
Yet again showing you deserve the Thumbs Up from www.TrustedSaskatoon.com
Let Nicola and the team at PickNic's Catering & fine Foods create something special for your next event or special occasion!
"Taste...That Delivers!"
At PickNic's Catering and Fine Foods, they understand you need more from your caterer than culinary expertise; you need peace of mind that someone you TRUST will take care of every detail. That’s why they have been serving more than just excellent food to Saskatoon and area for 15 years— they are here to serve you. From stress-free planning services to a sounding board for all of your catering ideas, everything they provide will make your event unforgettable and uniquely yours!
PickNics Celebrates 15 years in Business
Nicola Lawson, Owner & Manager of PickNic’s Catering Saskatoon, began her culinary training at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, in Edmonton, and completed the required schooling to begin her three-year apprenticeship as a commercial baker. Upon graduation from the program, she began her career in the food industry working at a variety of establishments all across Canada. Nicola has managed and worked at a variety of food and beverage establishments throughout the world. Her travels have taken her to the Yukon, where she managed the pastry shop of a hotel, to the cultural mecca of Capetown, South Africa, managing an in-store grocery bakery and then on to sunny Bermuda, where she took time from her busy sun-bathing schedule to run a classy resort’s pastry department. She returned to Canada to find her extended family had since moved from Alberta and settled in Saskatoon. So, a short hiatus in the Bridge City turned into a winter job contract commitment and not after too long she was smitten with the city! She and her 2 beautiful children have been living here happily ever since!
To be in business for 15 years with the ups and downs of the economy is not easy but Nicola and her team have been very successful. A huge part of this is their passion, quality, service and commitment to being the best caterer in Saskatoon.
Nicola Lawson is recognized as a leader in the Saskatoon business community. She is a driving force and founding member of the 33rd Street Business Improvement District in which her business is located. She is an active member of the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan and Saskatoon Women’s Network.
She is actively involved in her own community as a member of the Meadowgreen Community Association.
In addition, she has been nominated for several business awards including:
- Saskatoon chamber of Commerce SABEX Awards,
- YWCA Women of Distinction Award as well,
- 2007 Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Member of The Year recipient.
- PickNic’s Catering has also been voted, numerous times, as Saskatoon’s Best Caterer in Planet S magazine.
Trusted Saskatoon owner, Sara made a speech at the 15-year celebrations and presented Nicola with a gift on behalf of the Trusted Saskatoon team. She also presented Nicola and the PickNic's team with the 5year Trusted Saskatoon Award - We are proud to support Nicola and her team, who by the way, have not had a single complaint in over 5 years!!
Looking for a caterer in Saskatoon for your event?
Contact Nicola and her amazing team and see what sets them apart!
