What the vœux are
Vœux means wishes. In France, the New Year is not wished once at midnight and then forgotten: wishes are exchanged all through January, by card, by email, at the start of the first meeting with each client, and, in companies, at a dedicated gathering called the cérémonie des vœux.
The format is simple. Management, often the managing director, gives a short speech: a look back at the year, the priorities for the one ahead, thanks to the teams, and the wishes themselves, usually the classic bonne année et bonne santé, a happy new year and good health. Then everyone moves to a standing reception, glass in hand.
For a foreign company with a French subsidiary or a Paris office, the vœux matter more than they may seem. In many French workplaces they are a fixed point of the calendar, and a January without them can come across as an oversight. They are also an occasion to invite clients and partners.
When to hold them
By custom, New Year wishes can be offered until the end of January, so the vœux can take place on any date in the month. The second or third week is a common choice: everyone is back from the holidays, and the calendar has not yet filled up again.
For an internal gathering, late morning or late afternoon works well; with clients and partners, the early evening is easier for guests coming from outside. Either way, the speech comes first and the reception after.
Order as soon as the date is set: you order online in a few minutes, and the notice is 24 hours, 48 hours from 100 guests, counted up to the start of the delivery slot. Replies often come back after the holidays, so it helps that the headcount, the pieces and the options stay adjustable up to 72 hours before delivery.
The galette des rois, the fève and the crown
The galette des rois, or king cake, celebrates Epiphany, traditionally on 6 January, and is eaten throughout the month. In Paris and the north of France it is a round puff pastry cake filled with frangipane, an almond cream. Traditionally, a small charm called the fève is hidden inside.
Whoever finds the fève becomes king or queen for the day and wears the paper crown. In families, the youngest person sits under the table and calls out who gets each slice, so that nobody can pick the one with the charm. In an office, the youngest colleague is sometimes asked to play the part, which tends to break the ice.
With the New Year reception, the galette is an option for January deliveries: a frangipane king cake, one slice per guest, at €4.70 per guest, with paper crowns included. Serve it after the speech, with the sweet pieces.
10% off any order paid by 15 November On the end-of-year menus, for orders paid by Sunday 15 November at 11:59 pm (Paris time); options and delivery at the usual rate, not combined with the office subscription.
Order now to secure your date: the menu stays adjustable after you order. Swap items, change the headcount or options: we adapt with you up to 72 hours before delivery.
Order online →What to serve at the vœux
The New Year reception of the range serves 12 pieces per guest, 8 savoury and 4 sweet, with water and juice included. Each piece is listed on the product page, with its allergens. It is a reception rather than a meal, sized for a gathering that does not replace dinner.
For the toast, crémant at €8.90 or a glass of champagne at €9.90 per guest; white and red wine at €8.90 and soft drinks at €3 complete the drinks. Give the number of vegetarian guests when ordering: their pieces are replaced.
| Item | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| New Year reception for 30 | €13.50 | per guest, €405 in total |
| New Year reception for 50 | €13.50 | per guest, €675 in total |
| New Year reception for 100 | €13.50 | per guest, €1,350 in total |
| Galette des rois, January deliveries | €4.70 | per guest, one slice each, paper crowns included |
| Crémant | €8.90 | per guest |
| Glass of champagne | €9.90 | per guest |
| Soft drinks | €3 | per guest |
The speech and the running order
Keep the speech short, ten minutes at most, and hold it near the start, once most guests have arrived, so that the reception that follows is free. Guests often hold a glass during the speech, ready for the toast at the end.
A running order that works: arrival and first drinks, the speech and the toast, the savoury pieces, then the galette and the sweet pieces. In an international team, a few words in English after the French speech, or the other way round, make everyone feel included.
Plan the practical side as for any reception: a table for the food, somewhere to put a glass down, a contact for the delivery. Guests help themselves; on-site set-up is an option, €190 for 50 guests, and the cooling package costs €69 per 50 guests for a room without a fridge.
Practical points for a foreign company
Everything can be handled in English: the order, the confirmation, and written questions, answered in English by email or WhatsApp. The phone line is answered in French.
Payment is by secure card payment when ordering; it confirms the order and reserves the date. For a large company order, a deposit by card, a purchase order signed online and the balance by bank transfer are possible. The minimum order is €300 per delivery.
Delivery is included across Île-de-France, with a €90 supplement in Seine-et-Marne, and disposable tableware is included. For a format outside the range, a bespoke quote remains possible.