Lee and Kelly Althoft
Country Rhodes Catering
Lee and Kelly Althoft
Owners
Lee and Kelly Althoff are the owners of Country Rhodes Catering, a family-owned catering company based in Effingham, Illinois. Together, they lead a business that specializes in large, multi-shift catering for corporate, industrial, and large-scale events throughout Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. With more than 25 years of combined experience in the catering industry, Lee and Kelly have built Country Rhodes Catering around the idea that every client deserves fresh, high-quality meals prepared with care, regardless of the size or complexity of the event.
Since taking ownership of Country Rhodes Catering in May 2019, they have remained committed to delivering dependable service while maintaining the company’s signature approach of preparing meals fresh onsite using custom mobile kitchens. Under their leadership, the company has expanded its capabilities while continuing to serve businesses and organizations that require reliable catering for hundreds or even thousands of guests.
Previous Experience/History
Lee and Kelly Althoff became the owners of Country Rhodes Catering in May 2019, bringing their shared commitment to customer service and quality into an established catering business. Before joining the company full time, Lee worked as a special education teacher while helping support the business whenever possible. As the company’s growth continued, he transitioned into managing Country Rhodes Catering full time.
Kelly also balanced a career in education before joining the business full time. She continued teaching until December 2021, when she shifted her focus to Country Rhodes Catering and their family. Their combined backgrounds reflect a strong work ethic, dedication to serving others, and an ability to manage the unique demands of both education and business leadership.
Throughout their time as owners, Lee and Kelly have guided the company through changing circumstances while staying focused on providing dependable catering services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they temporarily expanded into food truck operations before returning their primary focus to large-scale catering events as demand increased. Today, they continue to oversee every aspect of the business while serving companies across the Midwest.
Highlights of Current Work
Lee and Kelly currently oversee every aspect of Country Rhodes Catering’s large-scale catering operations. The company specializes in serving corporate, industrial, and employee appreciation events, with the ability to prepare fresh meals for groups ranging from approximately 500 to 10,000 people.
One of the defining features of Country Rhodes Catering is its use of custom 40-foot mobile kitchens that allow meals to be cooked fresh at the event location rather than transported after preparation. This approach helps ensure food quality while providing an efficient solution for large organizations with demanding schedules.
Country Rhodes Catering is also equipped to serve multi-shift operations, including overnight crews, making the company a valuable partner for manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and other businesses operating around the clock. In addition to scheduled events, the company provides emergency catering services and can respond within approximately six to twelve hours for qualifying situations within its service area.
Lee and Kelly also lead a team that serves as certified vendors for Amazon, Walmart, and FedEx, reflecting the company’s ability to meet the operational requirements of major organizations while maintaining consistent service and quality.
Areas of Expertise
Lee and Kelly specialize in large, multi-shift catering designed to meet the needs of businesses, industrial facilities, and organizations with complex food service requirements. Their experience includes coordinating meal service for large workforces while accommodating multiple schedules and maintaining efficient on-site operations.
Their expertise extends beyond traditional event catering. Country Rhodes Catering regularly provides meals for customer appreciation events, corporate gatherings, holiday celebrations, buffet-style service, and individually packaged meals. The company’s ability to prepare food onsite using mobile kitchens allows Lee and Kelly to deliver fresh meals while adapting to each client’s location and operational needs.
With more than 25 years of combined catering experience, they understand the planning, logistics, and coordination required to successfully execute events involving hundreds or thousands of guests. Their hands-on leadership helps ensure that each event receives the same level of preparation, organization, and attention to detail regardless of size.
A Commitment to Serving Large-Scale Events
Country Rhodes Catering has built its reputation by focusing on reliability, flexibility, and fresh food prepared onsite. Lee and Kelly understand that large organizations often require catering partners capable of handling changing schedules, multiple meal periods, and high guest counts without sacrificing quality.
Their commitment to serving clients throughout Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri has allowed Country Rhodes Catering to become a trusted resource for companies seeking dependable catering solutions. Whether coordinating planned corporate events or responding to emergency catering needs, they remain focused on providing professional service backed by experience and careful planning.
If you’re planning a corporate event, coordinating meals for a multi-shift workforce, or need large-scale catering from an experienced team, contact Country Rhodes Catering today. Lee and Kelly Althoff and their team are ready to provide fresh onsite catering solutions tailored to your organization’s needs and help make your next event a success.
