Aramark Strives to Support Diverse Suppliers to Level UP!
Organisations can unlock greater business success, enhance problem-solving, enhance resilience and support diverse perspectives by crafting an inclusive and innovative supply chain.
By doing so, not only can organisations reflect their commitment to Diversity, Equity an Inclusion (DEI) but they can also support long-term business growth and sustainability by aligning with global ESG standards and ethical sourcing goals.
A leading international provider of food services, Aramark, is striving to support diverse and small suppliers by improving one of its mentorship programs - Level UP!
Aramark - in collaboration with Avendra International, Sysco and Certify My Company - equips participants with the ability to leverage sustainability goals, discover new procurement practices and obtain diverse supplier certifications.
Heather Cox, President of Certify My Company, explains how: “We have partnered with Aramark since 2020 to help more small and diverse-owned companies receive third-party certification,”
“Level UP! offered us a great way to connect with and educate suppliers for more meaningful discussions tailored to their products and to Aramark’s business.”
Aramark’s commitment to supplier diversity
As part of its wider commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Aramark remains driven to improve supplier diversity to support its consumers, communities and clients.
By 2025, Aramark aims to have spent 25% of US supply chain purchases with small, local and under-represented businesses.
The organisation characterises any businesses that are at least 51% operated and owned by underrepresented groups, such as ethnic minorities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans and women, as diverse suppliers.
Aramark reinforces partnerships with many small and diverse suppliers, provides a database of certified and registered diverse and small businesses and educate its employees on contracting goals to support its supplier diversity commitments.
Its efforts to enhance supplier diversity continue to be recognised - with the organisation receiving a Strategic Excellence Award from Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council in November 2024 and an award for Outstanding Community Partnership at the University of Delaware’s Supplier Diversity Conference in March 2024.
The Level UP! Program
The Level UP! programme is a 10-week supplier development programme that strives to tackle the most profound challenges underrepresented and small suppliers face - utilising diverse supplier certifications, managing distribution through channels, navigating Aramark’s procurement system and responding to RFP’s with ease.
The programme is in collaboration with Avendra International, Sysco and Certify My Company and is offered at no cost.
90-minute weekly meetings were held between 9 September 2024 to 18 November 2024. During these sessions, attendees had the opportunity to experience:
- How to utilise sustainability program goals into business with Avendra International and Aramark
- Discussing product-specific opportunities during meetings with Aramark and Avendra International representatives
- Receiving expert insights on how to set up for RFP success and get to know the target client
- Ways suppliers can leverage diverse supplier certification and differentiate themselves
- Step-by-step guide on how to be contemplated for new vendor sourcing opportunities
- Behind-the-scenes look at Aramark and Avendra International procurement practices
- Sysco insights on how to lead successful partnerships and get established in the Sysco marketplace for central warehouse distribution and drop shipping
- One-on-one meetings with Sysco buying group and merchandising personnel
Natily Santos, Vice President of Responsible Sourcing at Aramark, adds: “We refreshed our former training and mentorship model to ensure even greater success for the suppliers and for Aramark,
“For our inaugural Level UP! class, we had 13 participants from companies across the US.”
How does embracing supplier diversity impact the future of our industries?
Companies can foster innovation by enhancing supplier diversity and the inclusion of underrepresented businesses with diverse solutions and perspectives.
Not only will this drive economic growth and strengthen communities by supporting small and underrepresented businesses but it will also enhance resilience by minimising dependency on a small number of suppliers.
Aramark’s new Level UP! programme will catalyse the transition to a more equitable, sustainable and innovative global procurement and supply chain ecosystem that prioritises sustainable development and community growth.
By doing so, the organisation has set a benchmark for other organisations to equip underrepresented businesses with the insights and skills they need to thrive in the competitive procurement ecosystem and advance their supplier diversity.
Darnell Greene, Director of Supplier Inclusion at Sysco, says: “We all share a responsibility to empower small businesses with the tools and insights they need to succeed,”
“When small and diverse businesses thrive, they fuel economic growth that creates a ripple effect that not only drives growth for our customers, but also strengthens the communities our customers serve.”
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