What you need for an anniversary staff party

Use this shopping list to prepare an anniversary staff party for colleagues without discovering missing supplies during setup. Plan tableware for every guest plus a small spare margin, and separate meals for special dietary requirements before the buffet opens. Drinks, coffee equipment and serving pieces are easy to underestimate, especially when the event includes speeches, a presentation and a meal. Confirm what the venue already provides before buying or transporting bulky items such as tables, chairs, warmers and projection equipment.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 55
Buffet tablesqty 3
Stoolsqty 10
Coat racksqty 2
Waste binsqty 4

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 60
Dessert platesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 60
Water glassesqty 70
Wine glassesqty 60
Coffee spoonsqty 60
Forksqty 60
Knivesqty 60
Serving spoonsqty 12

Kitchen

Food warmersqty 4
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving tongsqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 4
Water jugsqty 6

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Laptops
Projector
Projection screen
Speakersqty 2
Microphone

Lighting

Light Stripsqty 3
Table lampsqty 6

Decorations

Balloonsqty 100
Balloon arch
Buntingqty 8
Tableclothsqty 8
Napkin holdersqty 8
Name badgesqty 60
Photo backdrop
Gift wrapping

Cleaning

Vacuum cleaner
Mopsqty 2
Bucketsqty 2
Cleaning clothsqty 12
Hand soap dispensersqty 3
Toilet brushesqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Tortilla wraps - 60 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Cream cheese - 1,5 kilo
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Brie - 1 kilo
- Goat cheese - 750 grams
- Back ham - 1.5 kilos
- Chicken breast slices - 1.5 kilos
- Smoked salmon - 750 grams
- Hummus - 1.5 kilos
- Avocado - 12 pieces
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Bell peppers - 12
- Red onion - 1 kilo
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Corn - 8 cans
- Chickpeas - 8 cans
- Pasta - 3 kilos
- Pasta sauce - 6 jars
- Pesto - 4 jars
- Parmesan cheese - 500 grams
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Chili flakes - 1 jar
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Mixed nuts - 1 kilo
- Olives - 6 jars
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Melons - 4 pieces
- Brownies - 60
- Mini pastries - 60 pieces
- Whipped cream - 6 cans
- Coffee - 2 kilos
- Decaf coffee - 500 grams
- Tea - 100 bags
- Herbal tea - 40 bags
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Sparkling water - 12 bottles
- Still water - 24 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Iced tea - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Beer - 72 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Red wine - 6 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Prosecco - 8 bottles
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Cocktail picks - 500 pieces
- Straws - 100 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 36 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Hand soap - 3 bottles

Tips

Count one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one fork and one knife per guest, then add 10% spares. Buffet service usually needs more serving spoons, tongs and platters than expected.
For the first hour, allow two to three drinks per person; for each following hour, plan about one to two. Add water separately and keep enough chilled drinks available before guests arrive.
Set aside special-diet meals in clearly labelled containers before setting up the buffet. Match each meal to the final guest list and dietary requirements collected during registration.
Plan one coffee cup and spoon per guest, plus at least 10% extra. Check whether the coffee machines, kettles and thermos flasks can serve the full group without a long queue.
Test the laptop, projector, screen, speakers and microphone before the anniversary presentation. Bring the required connection cables and keep the presentation on a second device or USB drive as backup.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and glasses do I need for an anniversary staff party?: Start with one dinner plate, one dessert plate and one water glass per guest, plus 10% spare. Add wine glasses only for guests who will be served wine, and keep extra glasses available for breakage and refills.
How much food and drink should I buy for a staff anniversary party?: Use the confirmed guest count to calculate catering quantities, then add around 10% for late additions and larger portions. For drinks, allow two to three per person in the first hour and one to two per person for every hour after that, alongside water.
When should I buy and chill drinks for the party?: Buy non-perishable drinks and serving supplies several days beforehand. Chill drinks at least 4 hours before guests arrive, or use coolers with ice if the venue has limited refrigerator space.
What equipment do I need for speeches and a presentation?: Prepare a laptop, projector, projection screen, speakers and microphone, plus compatible connection cables. Test everything at the venue at least 60 minutes before the event starts and keep a backup copy of the presentation.

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