This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

24 Dec 2025 at 10:26

TenderUpdate

17 Oct 2024 at 11:08

Award

01 Feb 2024 at 11:35

Tender

28 Jul 2023 at 11:54

Planning

14 Apr 2023 at 14:53

Summary of the contracting process

In the most recent procurement process dated 24th December 2025, the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust has concluded a contract for the provision of ready prepared meals. The procurement process, identified as OCDS ID "ocds-h6vhtk-03bedd", involved a selective procurement method under a restricted procedure. The awarded contract is valued at £240,000, and the signed date is recorded as 9th December 2025, with Apetito Limited being the successful supplier. This procurement falls under the industry category of prepared meals, specifically within the region "UKJ21" corresponding to the South East of England. Despite the conclusion of the process with an award, a lot was cancelled under the NHS Supply Chain's Framework Agreement, illustrating the complexity and evolving nature of procurement processes.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses focused on food and beverage supply, catering specifically to healthcare establishments. Companies like Apetito Limited that specialise in large-scale meal preparation, particularly for institutional and healthcare settings, stand to benefit. The nature of this procurement, with its selective process, indicates that businesses need to have a strong compliance and capability framework to meet stringent requirements, catering to diverse dietary needs such as therapeutic and religious meal provisions. Thus, suppliers with robust delivery infrastructure and the capacity to customise meal plans will find favourable prospects in similar tenders.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

The Provision of Ready Prepared Meals

Notice Description

The provision of ready prepared meals

Lot Information

Standard Ready Prepared Meals

Direct award under NHS Supply Chain Prepared Meals Framework Agreement

Options: The Framework Agreement will have the option to extend incrementally for up to a further 24 months. The contract will be for a maximum term of 48 months.

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will have an initial term of 24 months with an option to extend incrementally for up to a further 24 months

Specialist Ready Prepared Meals

This lot will cover chilled and/or frozen ready prepared meals in various formats including single or bulk. These include but not limited to religious/cultural meals, texture modified meals, therapeutic diet and paediatric meals. The value for the first 24 months is anticipated to be PS8,949,700 and PS17,899,400 for the full 48 months (if extended).

Options: The Framework Agreement will have the option to extend incrementally for up to a further 24 months. The contract will be for a maximum term of 48 months

Retail Ready Prepared Meals

This lot will cover a selection of chilled, frozen or ambient ready prepared meals that are suitable for the use in retail or restaurant services settings. Where meals are used in a retail outlet such as but not limited to vending machines, staff honesty freezers, retail outlets they will need to be packaged in retail suitable packaging that meets all legal labelling requirements for retail use. Where meals are used for back of house services e.g. part of a restaurant setting they must be in packaging suitable for easy use in these settings as well as meeting all legal labelling requirements for food service use. Included in the provision of this lot is associated equipment which may include microwaves, freezers or other equipment used specifically for the products awarded. The value for the first 24 months is anticipated to be PS640,350 and PS1,280,700 for the full 48 months (if extended).

Options: The Framework Agreement will have the option to extend incrementally for up to a further 24 months. The contract will be for a maximum term of 48 month

Small Community and Mental Health Site Provision

This Lot is for a selection of ready prepared frozen or chilled delivered ready meals including but not limited to soups, main entrees, vegetables, therapeutic diets and breakfast items. Applicants had to be able to deliver to small community or mental health sites who have a low number of beds. Suppliers must have the capability to offer a flexible delivery service based on customer requirements. Typically these sites will have low minimum order values which the supplier will be expected to accommodate. Applicants must be able to manufacturer and/or distribute a selection of frozen or chilled delivered meals to these small sites. In some instances trusts may require their chosen supplier to provide a "one stop shop" solution. The value for the first 24 months is anticipated to be PS410,250 and PS820,500 for the full 48 months (if extended).

Options: The Framework Agreement will have the option to extend incrementally for up to a further 24 months. The contract will be for a maximum term of 48 months.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-03bedd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086077-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

03 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products

15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products


CPV Codes

03221000 - Vegetables

15310000 - Potatoes and potato products

15812121 - Savoury pies

15833100 - Desserts

15891000 - Soups and broths

15894100 - Vegan packs

15894200 - Prepared meals

15894220 - Hospital meals

15894400 - Snacks

39314000 - Industrial kitchen equipment

39711124 - Industrial freezers

39711362 - Microwave ovens

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£200,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£200,000,600 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£200,240,600 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Dec 20258 months ago
Submission Deadline
14 Sep 2023Expired
Future Notice Date
27 Jul 2023Expired
Award Date
5 Jan 20242 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Additional Buyers

NHS Supply Chain

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRIGHTON , ELM GROVE
Postcode
BN2 3EW
Postcode Area
Brighton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ21 Brighton and Hove
Delivery Location
TLJ21 Brighton and Hove

Local Authority
Brighton and Hove
Electoral Ward
Hanover & Elm Grove
Westminster Constituency
Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
31
Supplier Names

All Seasons Foods

Amai Foods & Beverages

Anglia Crown

Anika Food Charity

Apetito Limited

Chefly

Coco Labelle Ltd

Compass Contract Services (UK) Ltd

Country Kitchen Foods (Norfolk) Ltd

Dalehills Lts t/a Harvest Foods

Fairtrade Vending

Field Doctor

Food Network Corporation Ltd

Greenwood Foods Ltd

Holmesterne Foods

Kitchen Prep UK

Maple Fine Foods

Medina Food Group Ltd

NH Case Ltd

Norfolk Catering

Nosh

Oakhouse Foods

Planty London Ltd

Rockcliffe Group Int Ltd

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

Simply Food Solutions

Stan's Choice Limited

The Children's Healthy Food Company

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Yearsley Food Limited

Yumchop Foods Limited

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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