Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Premier Catering Services in Tampa
Since 1969, Lupton's Catering & Restaurants Catering & Restaurants has been a family-owned cornerstone of central Florida's catering industry, delivering exceptional BBQ and event services with unwavering commitment to quality. Our mobile fleet enables seamless service across the southeast, from corporate events to weddings, backed by decades of expertise in large-scale catering logistics. The Lupton family's legacy of excellence began with Ralph and Nancy Lupton's Catering & Restaurants Catering & Restaurants dedication to customer satisfaction, a philosophy carried forward by sons Chip and Jeff in managing our restaurant and catering divisions. Our proven disaster response capabilities, exemplified by feeding 1,000 workers post-Hurricane Wilma, demonstrate operational reliability under pressure. Beyond events, we prioritize community impact through veteran and foster child support programs, aligning with our founding principle of service beyond profit.With seven grandchildren poised to continue this tradition, our team combines generational knowledge with cutting-edge mobile infrastructure. Our culinary team specializes in authentic southern BBQ and custom menu development, ensuring every event meets exact specifications. Transparency in operations and ethical business practices have maintained our trusted reputation for over five decades. From initial consultation to execution, we guarantee flawless service delivery through rigorous internal quality controls. This combination of heritage, technical capability, and community values positions Lupton's Catering & Restaurants Catering & Restaurants as the southeast's premier catering partner.
Services
Catering Services
BBQ Catering
Mobile Catering
Event Catering
Disaster Relief Catering
Details
- Year established: 1969
Highlights and features
- Family-owned since 1969 with generational catering expertise
- Proven disaster response capabilities with mobile infrastructure
- Serves 1,000+ guests with customized event logistics
- Community-focused with veteran and foster child programs
- Full-service catering from menu design to execution
Services
Catering Services
Full-service catering for corporate events, weddings, and private functions with customized menus. Our experienced team handles logistics from 50 to 5,000 guests using temperature-controlled transport. Clients receive dedicated event coordination from proposal to cleanup.
BBQ Catering
Specialty slow-smoked BBQ featuring proprietary spice blends and regional flavor profiles. Available with full-service wait staff or self-serve buffet options. Includes traditional sides like coleslaw, baked beans, and cornbread prepared fresh daily.
Mobile Catering
Fully equipped trucks with onboard smokers enable catering at remote locations without facility requirements. Ideal for construction sites, film productions, and outdoor festivals. Maintains food quality through portable temperature-controlled serving stations.
Disaster Relief Catering
Rapid-response catering for first responders and recovery teams during natural disasters. Capable of deploying 10+ service units within 24 hours to affected areas. Serves hot meals to thousands daily with scalable infrastructure for prolonged operations.
Corporate Catering
Customized catering solutions for company picnics, conferences, and executive meetings. Offers dietary-compliant options including vegan, gluten-free, and low-sodium menus. Includes branded serving ware and themed presentation options for corporate branding.
People
Ralph J. Lupton, Jr.
President & CEO
Third-generation catering leader with 45+ years industry experience. Oversees strategic operations and maintains quality standards established in 1969. Holds multiple food service innovation patents and disaster response certifications.
Nancy Lupton
Secretary/Treasurer
Co-founder managing financial operations and community outreach programs. Developed veteran support initiatives and foster child meal donation systems. Recognized for ethical business practices in Florida's catering industry.
Chip Lupton
Senior Vice President, Catering & Restaurants
25-year catering veteran directing daily operations across 15+ service units. Specializes in large-scale event logistics and mobile catering infrastructure development. Holds master's certification in food safety management.
Kim Putman
Executive Secretary - Sales
Sales operations director with 18 years client relationship management experience. Manages corporate catering contracts and develops customized event proposals. Certified in hospitality revenue optimization techniques.
John H. Eaton
Research & Development
Culinary innovator creating seasonal menus and dietary-compliant recipes. Holds multiple awards for BBQ competition circuit achievements. Develops proprietary spice blends and cooking techniques for menu differentiation.
Questions
What types of events do you cater?
We handle weddings, corporate events, company picnics, and disaster relief operations for up to 5,000 guests with customized menus and full-service logistics.
How long has Lupton's Catering & Restaurants Catering & Restaurants been in business?
Our family-owned catering business has operated continuously since 1969, serving central Florida and the southeast United States with BBQ and event catering services.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Yes, we offer vegan, gluten-free, and low-sodium menu options prepared in dedicated kitchen facilities to prevent cross-contamination for special dietary needs.
Do you provide equipment and staff?
All catering packages include serving equipment, temperature-controlled transport, and professionally trained staff for buffet setup, service, and cleanup operations.
What areas do you serve?
Our mobile fleet serves all of central Florida and extends to the southeastern United States, including Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolinas for large events.
How quickly can you respond to emergencies?
Our disaster response team can deploy within 24 hours, providing hot meals to thousands daily using our fleet of 10+ mobile catering units with onboard smokers.
