Why does the badge name include a question mark?

The question mark signals uncertainty. The rule identifies a pattern consistent with catering orders, but it cannot confirm the customer's intent. The badge prompts your team to review and verify.

Can I lower the quantity threshold for a store with smaller average orders?

Yes. Edit the rule text to change the quantity threshold. For example, a bakery might lower it to 12 items to catch smaller event orders.

What if a large order spans exactly 2 categories?

It will still fire. The rule allows 2 or fewer categories. Two categories is common for catering - for example, food platters and beverages.

Does total quantity count individual items or line items?

Individual items. If a customer orders 15 of one product and 10 of another, the total quantity is 25, not 2.

How to detect catering or event orders in WooCommerce | Catering Order? rule

The problem

Large orders concentrated in a few categories often indicate catering, corporate, or event purchases. These orders may need bulk packaging, custom delivery scheduling, or a commercial invoice, but without a flag they are processed as regular consumer orders.

The solution

OrderBadger can flag large uniform orders that look like catering or event purchases based on quantity, category spread, and value.

Who this is for

Food and drink retailers, bakeries, delicatessens, and catering suppliers who occasionally receive event-sized orders through their regular WooCommerce store.

At a glance

Total quantity more than 20 items Max 2 distinct categories Order total over £200 Routes to inbox for event confirmation Badge: Catering Order? (yellow)

People also search for

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How it works

Combines three conditions: total quantity above £20, no more than 2 distinct categories, and order total over £200. This pattern - many items in few categories at a significant total - is a strong signal of a bulk or catering purchase rather than a typical consumer order.

Review the order before dispatch. Contact the customer to confirm delivery requirements, such as a specific delivery time window, bulk packaging, or a commercial invoice. Consider offering a bulk discount or catering-specific service.

Rule template

Plain English rule Total quantity is more than £20 and distinct category count is 2 or fewer and order total is over £200

Write this (or something similar) in the OrderBadger rule builder. The AI compiler turns it into executable logic automatically.

Make it yours

Adjust thresholds

Lower 'more than £20' to 'more than £12' if your store regularly receives smaller event orders that still need bulk handling.
Raise 'over £200' to 'over £500' if you only want to flag genuinely large commercial orders and your average catering spend is high.
Change '2 or fewer' categories to '1' category if true catering orders in your store are almost always from a single product line.

Add or remove conditions

Add 'and the customer is a guest' to focus on unknown buyers placing large bulk orders, which may also warrant a fraud or legitimacy check. …ct category count is 2 or fewer and order total is over £200 and the customer is a guest
Add 'and at least one product is in the Platters or Catering category' to combine quantity signals with an explicit catering category for higher confidence. …ct category count is 2 or fewer and order total is over £200 and at least one product is in the Platters or Catering category

Badge preview

Default: Catering Order?

When this rule matches

Large Single Category Order

Order total: £350.00

30 items in 1 category with total of £350 - all conditions met, classic catering pattern.

Large Two Category Order

Order total: £280.00

25 items across 2 categories with total of £280 - meets the quantity, category, and value thresholds.

When this rule does not match

Large Quantity Many Categories

Order total: £250.00

Total quantity is 22 and total is over £200, but items span 4 categories - not 2 or fewer.

Small Quantity One Category

Order total: £220.00

Items are in 1 category and total is over £200, but total quantity of 10 is not more than £20.

Large Quantity Low Value

Order total: £150.00

Total quantity is 25 and only 1 category, but order total of £150 is not over £200.

Workflow

This rule includes workflow features that help your team act on flagged orders.

Inbox

Yes

Good to know

This is a heuristic - not all large uniform orders are catering. Some customers may simply stock up on favourites.
The question mark in the badge name is intentional: it signals that the order should be checked, not that it is definitely a catering order.
Category count depends on your WooCommerce product taxonomy. A narrow taxonomy with few categories may inflate matches.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the badge name include a question mark?

The question mark signals uncertainty. The rule identifies a pattern consistent with catering orders, but it cannot confirm the customer's intent. The badge prompts your team to review and verify.
Can I lower the quantity threshold for a store with smaller average orders?

Yes. Edit the rule text to change the quantity threshold. For example, a bakery might lower it to 12 items to catch smaller event orders.
What if a large order spans exactly 2 categories?

It will still fire. The rule allows 2 or fewer categories. Two categories is common for catering - for example, food platters and beverages.
Does total quantity count individual items or line items?

Individual items. If a customer orders 15 of one product and 10 of another, the total quantity is 25, not 2.

How to detect catering or event orders in WooCommerce