Philadelphia Catering Company Retains Talent and Strengthens Employee Well-being

Philadelphia Catering Company (PCC) has been a fixture in the community for decades, recognized not only for its exceptional food but also for the strong, family-like culture that its team has built. Many employees have been with the company for 10, 15, or even 25 years, a rare achievement in the catering industry.

However, like many small businesses, PCC faced a critical challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic: how to remain competitive in hiring and retention without a budget for traditional health insurance.

“We’re a small company. We can’t afford health care premiums, and during COVID, we were losing people. Our company didn’t look very attractive, explains Lisa Ryan, Chief Business Officer of Philadelphia Catering Company. “So we were looking to try and attract candidates to work for us. Vitable was huge for us.” 

PCC knew they couldn’t offer “Cadillac” health insurance plans, but they wanted to provide something meaningful, benefits employees would really use. That’s where Vitable stepped in.

Vitable’s primary-care-first model provided PCC with a simple and affordable solution that puts care at the center. Every employee received access to $0 virtual primary care, urgent care, prescriptions, labs, and in-home visits, services designed to be used, not avoided.

“When somebody doesn’t have access to health care and you work your tail off every single day but you still can’t afford it, that can hurt. To be able to have Vitable has just been incredible,” says Ryan.

For Mike Santiago, PCC’s Production Logistics Associate, Vitable’s impact went far beyond physical healthcare. Through Vitable’s mental health coaching, he found critical support during some of the most difficult times in his life.

“I’ve been using Vitable’s mental health coaching for the last three years, and I don’t think I would be the man I’m becoming without [my coach’s] help,” shares Santiago.

“When somebody doesn’t have access to health care and you work your tail off every single day but you still can’t afford it, that can hurt. To be able to have Vitable has just been incredible.”

This type of accessible, stigma-free support helped Santiago and his coworkers build resilience while strengthening the company’s culture of care.

For PCC, offering Vitable has become more than just a way to meet compliance or attract candidates; it’s been a culture-strengthening benefit that shows employees how much they matter.

“Vitable has really been a game changer for us. I don’t know who else is offering a service like this. Vitable is revolutionizing healthcare. Seriously,” says Ryan.

By partnering with Vitable, Philadelphia Catering Company not only improved its ability to attract and retain employees during a challenging time, but also gave its team access to healthcare that feels personal, accessible, and genuinely impactful.