Commercial catering refers to food services that are provided as a business venture for profit. The primary focus of commercial catering is to offer a variety of high-quality dishes, creative menus, and excellent dining experiences to attract customers and generate revenue. Commercial caterers operate restaurants, cafes, banquet halls, catering companies, and similar establishments that cater to the general public or private clients. They aim to generate revenue and achieve profitability by attracting and satisfying customers through their food offerings and services. Commercial catering may be defined as the operations in which profitability is the primary concern.

On the other hand, non-commercial catering is primarily concerned with providing balanced and nutritious meals to support the well-being of individuals in specific institutional settings. The emphasis in welfare catering is on meeting the dietary needs of the people being served rather than generating profit. Non-commercial catering may take place in schools, universities, hospitals, clinics, old peoples homes, and other similar settings.

In summary, commercial catering is a food service that operates as a business venture for profit, while non-commercial catering is focused on providing nutritious meals to support the well-being of individuals in specific institutional settings.