Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

Tender description

Hertfordshire Catering Ltd (HCL) is carrying out Pre-Procurement Market Engagement (“PPME”) in relation to the supply of groceries, frozen and chilled foods. HCL will consider the feedback received to help inform their options and further decision making. For the avoidance of doubt, this stage of the project is not part of a formal procurement process and HCL is not committing, at this stage, to carrying out such a process. Participation or non-participation in the PPME shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the PPME shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process. Participation in the PPME will be at each organisation’s own cost. No expense in responding to this PPME will be reimbursed by HCL. Hertfordshire Catering Ltd (hereinafter referred to as HCL), limited by shares and wholly owned by Hertfordshire County Council, is committed to delivering excellence in education catering to schools throughout Hertfordshire and surrounding areas. HCL presently deliver a catering service in circa 370 primary schools and 50 secondary schools along with other commercial units. Our vision is to become first choice in education catering, and HCL are dedicated to consistently delivering an exemplary service, by focusing on improving their customers’ experience. HCL has an existing contract in place for the supply of groceries, frozen and chilled goods, that is currently due to expire in August 2020. The current contract covers the full range of ingredients used in HCL kitchens. This pre-procurement market engagement provides an opportunity to get a fresh perspective on the market and to research the choices that are available which have the potential to meet the needs of our customers and further enhance our catering service as a whole.