What to buy for an après-ski party for 50 staff

For an après-ski party with 50 staff members, plan the shopping around a buffet, hot snacks, cold appetizers and drinks served over several hours. You will need more than food and alcohol: glasses, serving dishes, warmers, coolers, lighting and power supplies all affect how smoothly the evening runs. Buy non-perishables first, then collect fresh food and chill drinks close to the event. Use the plan below to keep the shopping list aligned with the room setup and service schedule.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 55
Buffet tablesqty 2
Coat racksqty 2
Coat racksqty 60

Tableware

Beer glassesqty 70
Wine glassesqty 60
Highball glassesqty 70
Coffee cupsqty 60
Platesqty 70
Cutlery setsqty 70
Serving plattersqty 10
Soup serving bowlsqty 4
Serving spoonsqty 8
Serving traysqty 8

Decorations

Snowflake garlandsqty 10
Après-ski signsqty 6
Skis as decorationqty 4
Artificial snowqty 4
Tableclothsqty 8
Photo booth propsqty 20

Equipment

Portable speakersqty 2
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Coolersqty 4
Food warmersqty 4
Hot platesqty 4
Kettlesqty 2

Lighting

String lightsqty 6
LED lanternsqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Kitchen knivesqty 4
Kitchen tongsqty 6
Cooking potsqty 3
Thermos flasksqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 2

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Broom and dustpanqty 2
Mop headsqty 2
Bucketsqty 2
Washing-up bowlsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Beer - 120 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 30 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Mulled wine - 12 liters
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Tonic - 4 bottles
- Ginger ale - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Ice cubes - 15 kilograms
- Pretzels - 60 pieces
- Mini sausage rolls - 80 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Mini smoked sausages - 60 pieces
- Sauerkraut - 4 jars
- Potatoes - 8 kilograms
- Tomato soup - 8 liters
- Vegetable soup - 6 liters
- Grated cheese - 2 kilogram
- Garlic sauce - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 3 jars
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 bottles
- Pickles - 3 jars
- Crispy fried onions - 2 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Snack mix - 4 bags
- Peanuts - 3 bags
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Lemon cake - 4 pieces
- Whipped cream - 4 cans
- Cinnamon - 2 jars
- Nutmeg - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 pack
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Napkins - 250 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Hand soap - 3 bottles

Tips

Allow about 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then 1 drink per person for each additional hour. Include beer glasses, wine glasses and highball glasses so guests are not waiting for clean glassware.
For a buffet serving 50 people, provide at least 5–6 serving platters or trays and several serving spoons. Keep hot snacks in food warmers or on hot plates rather than relying on one shared dish.
Plan one plate and one cutlery set per guest, plus at least 10% extra: 55 plates and 55 cutlery sets is a practical minimum. Add soup serving bowls and coffee cups if soup or hot drinks are on the menu.
Buy or collect decorations before the fresh-food run. Snowflake garlands, après-ski signs, skis, artificial snow, tablecloths and photo booth props are easy to forget when they are left until setup day.
Check power before bringing string lights, LED lanterns, speakers, kettles and hot plates into the room. Use extension cords and power strips only after confirming where the sockets are and keeping cables away from walkways.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for an après-ski party for 50 people?: For a buffet with hot snacks and cold appetizers, plan roughly 8–12 bite-sized portions per person when the party replaces a light meal, or 400–600 portions in total. Confirm the final quantity after registrations and dietary requirements are collected.
How many drinks should I buy for 50 staff members?: For the first hour, allow 2–3 drinks per person, or about 100–150 drinks. Add around 50 drinks for every further hour, and include non-alcoholic options alongside beer, wine and mixed drinks.
How many glasses and plates are needed for 50 guests?: Start with 55 plates and 55 cutlery sets to cover all guests plus a 10% reserve. The number of beer, wine and highball glasses depends on the drink menu, but 55 of each type avoids shortages when washing is not available.
When should I buy and chill drinks for the party?: Buy non-perishable drinks and supplies several days ahead, then chill the drinks at least 6–8 hours before guests arrive. If the coolers are small, chill in batches and confirm the delivery or collection time before setup day.

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