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Fresh Butchered Meat and Poultry and Associated Products (2026 - 2030)

THE UNIVERSITY CATERERS ORGANISATION LIMITED

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

12 Aug 2026 at 15:11

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

22 Jun 2026 at 18:04

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

18 Feb 2026 at 15:34

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

21 May 2025 at 12:59

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University Caterers Organisation Limited is procuring fresh butchered meat, poultry and associated products for its member organisations across the UK. The requirement covers beef, pork, lamb, veal, ox, game and poultry, including joints, cuts, fillets, carcasses and whole animals for catering courses. It also includes processed meats such as sausages, bacon, burgers, haggis and chorizo; prepared and cooked meat products; speciality pies and pâtés; duck and quail eggs; halal and kosher products; special-diet items; and welfare-certified or organic options. Where required, suppliers must provide butchery services for animals from university farms, arranging delivery through an abattoir or another agreed route and cutting each animal to specification. The procurement is for goods, classified under CPV 15100000, animal products, meat and meat products.

The procurement has been completed through an open procedure and awarded as an open framework agreement. The award was made on 22 June 2026 and the contract was signed on 13 July 2026. The contract covers 13 July 2026 to 12 July 2028, with two optional one-year extensions to 12 July 2030. Its awarded value is £32,000,000 excluding VAT, or £38,400,000 including VAT. The single lot was evaluated on quality at 55% and price at 45%. Twenty-four valid bids were received, including 13 from SMEs. Nineteen suppliers were appointed: BFS Group, Blakes Meats, Sysco GB, Castell Howell Foods, C M B Foods, County Foods, Frankel, J Freeman & Sons, Harlech Foodservice, Henderson Foodservice, John Sheppard Butchers, Kent Frozen Foods, M C Kelly, Mclays, Midland Foods, M J Birtwistle, Owen Taylor & Sons, Turner & Price, and Underwood Meat Company.

This award shows substantial, UK-wide institutional demand for a broad foodservice meat and poultry range delivered through a multi-supplier framework. Suppliers well placed for a future requirement would combine reliable national or regional distribution with strong fresh-meat, poultry, butchery and foodservice capability. Relevant capacity includes sourcing and delivering varied cuts and carcasses, supplying processed, prepared and speciality products, and meeting halal, kosher, special-diet, organic and welfare-assurance requirements. A credible competitor would need to demonstrate consistent product quality as well as competitive pricing, because quality carried greater evaluation weight than price. Butchers serving university farms would also need the operational capacity to move animals through an abattoir or agreed alternative and cut them to individual specifications. The appointed supplier base includes both large distributors and SMEs, indicating scope for different operating models and regional coverage.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Fresh Butchered Meat and Poultry and Associated Products (2026 - 2030)

Notice Description

The supply and distribution of fresh butchered meat and poultry (and associated products) to members of TUCO Ltd. Fresh Butchered Meat & Poultry Agreement Scope is as follows but not limited to: * Fresh Butchered Meat Pork, Lamb, Beef, Ox, Veal: Joints, cuts, fillets, carcasses & whole animals for catering courses * Game: Venison, Rabbit, Pheasant etc. * Sundries: e.g. Butchers String & nets * Processed meats: Haggis, Sausages, Black Pudding, Bacon, Gammon, Burgers, pre-prepared kebabs, Chorizo etc. * Pre-prepared items: Prepped, filled and coated meats (e.g. Chicken Kiev), Cooked Meats, Specialty pies, pates * Poultry: Chicken, Turkey, Duck; Poussin * Specialty Eggs: Duck and Quail * Religious options including: Halal and Kosher * Special Diets: e.g. gluten free sausages etc * Welfare options including: Red Tractor, RSPCA Assured, Better Chicken Commitment, Organic, Higher Welfare, Welsh PGI Butchery Service where required: A small number of university members have their own farms / rear their own animals require a butchery service arrangement where bidders have the capacity and capability to administer the successful delivery of animals from member institution farms via an abattoir, or members' choice (or abattoir) and cut to members' specifications per animal. The level of service required would be detailed within any further competitions.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The initial duration of the Framework is 2 years, with option to extend annually until 10/05/2030. TUCO reserve the right to extend lots by varying durations.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051a8e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076876-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

CPV Codes

15100000 - Animal products, meat and meat products

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£32,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£32,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£32,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£32,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
23 Mar 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
18 Aug 2025Expired
Award Date
22 Jun 20262 months ago
Contract Period
13 Jul 2026 - 12 Jul 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
2030-01-15

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE UNIVERSITY CATERERS ORGANISATION LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M2 5GP
Postcode Area
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Deansgate
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
19
Supplier Names

BFS GROUP LIMITED

BLAKES MEATS LIMITED

C M B FOODS LTD.

CASTELL HOWELL FOODS LIMITED

COUNTY FOODS LIMITED

Frankel ltd

HARLECH FOODSERVICE LIMITED

HENDERSON FOODSERVICE LIMITED

J. FREEMAN & SONS LIMITED

John Sheppard Butchers Ltd

KENT FROZEN FOODS LIMITED

M C KELLY LIMITED

M J BIRTWISTLE & CO LIMITED

MCLAYS LIMITED

MIDLAND FOODS LIMITED

Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd

Sysco GB Limited

TURNER & PRICE LIMITED

UNDERWOOD MEAT COMPANY LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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