Local officials, business leaders, and supporters celebrated the opening of Birdwell Catering on Midway Lane with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday.

Executive chef Robert Birdwell said the business replaces Manny’s Catering, which was in business for about 10 years.

Birdwell and general manager Jim Bouchard used to work for Manny, but Manny retired and Birdwell bought out the business in June.

Birdwell said the new company does a lot of work for Oak Ridge National Laboratory, but also caters for weddings, reunions, and sporting events. They try to customize their menus for each client, serving a range of food from continental breakfasts to box lunches to fine dining.

“We’re very flexible,” Robert Birdwell said.

“The customer is very important to us,” said his wife, Jackie Birdwell.

Although it’s not a restaurant, the family-owned business does have take-out lunches.

More information is available on Birdwell Catering’s Facebook page.