Foodbuy – the UK’s largest Group Purchasing Organisation
Compass Group, a multinational contract food services company founded in 1941, is one of the largest catering and supporting services providers in the world.
Understanding the reliance its customers place on fresh, high quality and value-for-money produce, it promises an award-winning supplier network and robust supply chain.
Now, the group’s procurement business, Foodbuy, has expanded its operations to form the industry’s largest group purchasing organisation (GPO) in the UK and Ireland.
Foodbuy's purchasing power
The newly-formed Foodbuy UK&I will power the supply chain and add value to its partners beyond procurement.
With a combined purchasing power of more than £2bn (US$2.44bn) across more than 70 categories creating tailored solutions for client partners, helping them get the best possible value out of the supply chain.
One of the new divisions of Foodbuy will be a collection of independently run, sub-sector specialists including Regency Purchasing Group, Equinoxe, EF-Group, Zero Procure and TheProcurementCo.
This collection of specialists will operate under the Foodbuy UK&I name, offering agility and a deep-rooted understanding of each sector. It will also remain the sole supplier for its parent company Compass Group UK & Ireland.
“We’re thrilled to offer our partners the best of both worlds – the benefits of scale from Foodbuy Group and the operational sub-sector knowledge from Foodbuy UK&I’s independently run businesses who truly understand them,” says Karl Atkins, CEO of Foodbuy Group UK&I.
He adds: “With Regency Purchasing Group’s founder Alex Demetriou at the helm of Foodbuy UK&I, I’m confident the company will drive further growth across multiple market sectors while maximising savings and identifying new ways of bringing innovation to our long-standing and new client partners.”
How will clients benefit?
Beyond day-to-day support, Foodbuy UK&I will provide competitive pricing, savings, transparency and reassurance. It will also provide practice guidance and support in areas where client partners may not ordinarily have the capacity or capability within their organisation.
Foodbuy Group currently has a network of more than 700 supply partners which current and future suppliers will have the chance to significantly increase volume, tap into growth opportunities, form direct relationships with operators and trial new innovations.
“The creation of Foodbuy Group is hugely exciting and exceptionally well timed," adds Alex Demetriou, CEO of Foodbuy UK&I. "While the industry is facing ongoing operational challenges and costs, by bringing together our purchasing power, we can deliver even greater value to our client partners and help them thrive.
“This latest move has opened up new jobs, with 16 roles already filled and more across the UK currently advertised. It has also created huge opportunities for the suppliers and brand owners we partner with, as we can now further support them with the delivery of their innovation and development plans. I’m excited to see what we can achieve as a collective.”
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