Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Food & Drink Concepts

THE UNIVERSITY CATERERS ORGANISATION LIMITED

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

20 Aug 2026 at 11:57

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

03 Aug 2026 at 15:08

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

30 Apr 2026 at 21:31

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

22 May 2025 at 13:11

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University Caterers Organisation Limited established a UK-wide framework for supplying and distributing food and drink concepts to its members and clients, including universities, colleges and wider public-sector organisations. The scope covers chicken concepts; pizza, flatbreads and pasta; Asian and global cuisine; American classics; coffee-shop products; sweet treats; non-alcoholic drinks; and premium non-alcoholic drinks. Products include prepared meals, meat, bakery items, sauces, snacks, ingredients, coffee, tea, soft drinks, kombucha, bubble tea and drinks dispensers. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are included across the food lots. The framework can be used by participating education, local-government, central-government, emergency-service and NHS organisations across the UK.

The procurement is complete and has resulted in signed contracts across eight lots. The award date was 27 July 2026 and contracts were signed on 20 August 2026. Each lot has a stated contract value of £40,000,000 excluding VAT (£48,000,000 including VAT), although these figures are published for each lot and should not be added together. The contracts run from 24 August 2026 to 23 August 2028, with two possible one-year extensions to 23 August 2030, subject to performance. Awards were made to five suppliers for chicken, nine for pizza, flatbreads and pasta, nine for Asian and global cuisine, five for American classics, five for coffee shop, seven for sweet treats, five for non-alcoholic drinks and two for premium non-alcoholic drinks. The open procedure used a framework with direct appointments, ranked procedures or mini-competitions. Evaluation was split equally between price and quality, with economic and technical selection requirements. A 1.35% fee on awarded value applies to successful suppliers.

This requirement demonstrates sustained, broad-based demand for branded and own-label food and drink concepts across public-sector catering, with opportunities for both specialist producers and national wholesalers. Suppliers well placed for a future competition would offer reliable UK distribution, consistent product quality, competitive pricing and the operational capacity to serve multiple education and public-sector customers. Relevant capability may include supplying complete food concepts rather than isolated products, developing ranges for chicken, global cuisine, bakery, coffee-shop, dessert or drinks markets, and supporting vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free requirements. The buyer’s approach also favours suppliers able to provide detailed pricing across all ingredients and components, demonstrate commercial margins, and perform well on both technical quality and price. SME participation was identified as suitable, and the awarded supplier base includes many SMEs alongside larger distributors.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Food & Drink Concepts

Notice Description

The purpose of this planned procurement is to establish a closed framework for the supply and distribution of a variety of Food & Drink concepts to members and clients of TUCO (Universities, Colleges and the wider Public Sector). The duration of this Closed Framework is planned to be a maximum of 4 years. The annual spend through the Closed Framework is estimated at PS3m The total spend through the open framework (over the maximum 4 years) is estimated at PS40m The scope of products to be covered in the framework are as follows but not limited to: Food Concepts (Lots 1-6): Chicken Concepts to include all chicken concepts such as fried chicken, gyros, kebabs, marinated options, Korean fried chicken etc. Pizza, Flatbreads & Pasta including school-compliant ranges of pizza, pasta and sauces. Asian & Global Cuisine including ready-to-eat meals, sushi, snacks, and grocery staples/ingredients for cookery / convenience stores. This lot also includes cuisines not covered by other lots. American Classics such as Hot dogs and burgers, mac & cheese, grilled cheese, Tex/Mex, loaded fries and South American favourites such as burritos, tacos, enchiladas, tamales, mole, and pozole. Coffee Shop concepts and ingredients for sale in coffee shops include (but are not limited to) pasties, sandwiches/wraps, jacket potatoes, salad bowls, and cakes. Sweet Treats such as waffles, ice cream, and pancakes. Inclusion of vegan, vegetarian, gluten free options across all lots. Drinks Concepts (Lots 7 & 8): Drinks (Non-Alcoholic) Functional and low/no-alcohol options, including kombucha and adaptogen-infused drinks. Also includes teas (including iced teas), bubble tea, and cafe-style drink concepts. Drinks Premium (Non-Alcoholic) as above but where quality is already established-products are available in stores/shops and/or may be branded (no need to complete sampling).

Lot Information

Chicken Concepts

Renewal: The initial duration of the framework is 2 years, with the option to extend annually (+1 + 1 years) until 09 August 2030

Pizza, Flatbreads & Pasta

Renewal: The initial duration of the framework is 2 years, with the option to extend annually (+1 + 1 years) until 09 August 2030

Asian & Global Cuisine

Renewal: The initial duration of the framework is 2 years, with the option to extend annually (+1 + 1 years) until 09 August 2030

American Classics

Renewal: The initial duration of the framework is 2 years, with the option to extend annually (+1 + 1 years) until 09 August 2030

Coffee Shop

Renewal: The initial duration of the framework is 2 years, with the option to extend annually (+1 + 1 years) until 09 August 2030

Sweet Treats

Renewal: The initial duration of the framework is 2 years, with the option to extend annually (+1 + 1 years) until 09 August 2030

Drinks (Non-Alcoholic)

Renewal: The initial duration of the framework is 2 years, with the option to extend annually (+1 + 1 years) until 09 August 2030

Drinks Premium (Non-Alcoholic)

Renewal: The initial duration of the framework is 2 years, with the option to extend annually (+1 + 1 years) until 09 August 2030

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051d92
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079391-2026
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

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

15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

42 - Industrial machinery

CPV Codes

03220000 - Vegetables, fruits and nuts

03310000 - Fish, crustaceans and aquatic products

03313300 - Seaweeds

15100000 - Animal products, meat and meat products

15131100 - Sausage-meat products

15131610 - Beef meatballs

15250000 - Seafood

15310000 - Potatoes and potato products

15311000 - Frozen potatoes

15311200 - Diced, sliced and other frozen potatoes

15312400 - Potato snacks

15331100 - Fresh or frozen vegetables

15331400 - Preserved and/or canned vegetables

15331428 - Tomato sauce

15500000 - Dairy products

15540000 - Cheese products

15550000 - Assorted dairy products

15555000 - Ice cream and similar products

15800000 - Miscellaneous food products

15810000 - Bread products, fresh pastry goods and cakes

15811000 - Bread products

15811500 - Prepared bread products

15811511 - Prepared sandwiches

15812000 - Pastry goods and cakes

15812200 - Cakes

15821000 - Toasted bread products and pastry goods

15840000 - Cocoa; chocolate and sugar confectionery

15842210 - Drinking chocolate

15850000 - Pasta products

15851100 - Uncooked pasta

15851210 - Prepared pasta

15860000 - Coffee, tea and related products

15870000 - Condiments and seasonings

15871200 - Sauces, mixed condiments and mixed seasonings

15871210 - Soya sauce

15890000 - Miscellaneous food products and dried goods

15891000 - Soups and broths

15891600 - Stocks

15895000 - Fast-food products

15896000 - Deep-frozen products

15950000 - Non-distilled fermented beverages

15982000 - Soft drinks

42968100 - Drinks dispensers

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£40,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£40,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£40,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£40,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
5 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
2 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
27 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
24 Aug 2026 - 23 Aug 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
2030-04-30

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
20
Supplier Names

APETITO LIMITED

CARRS PASTIES LIMITED

CHANGE PLEASE CIC

CHICKEN JOES LIMITED

COSTA LIMITED

CREAMS FRANCHISING LTD

EDEN FARM LIMITED

HEN HOUSE (WHOLESALE) LIMITED

ISQUEEZE LIMITED

JANES BEVERAGES FOODSERVICE LIMITED

KROGAB LIMITED

NORTHERN BITES HALIFAX LTD

OCEAN KING LTD

PASTAKING (UK) LIMITED

ROLLOVER LIMITED

Sysco GB Limited

TANPOPO JAPANESE FOOD LIMITED

THE COVERED KITCHEN LTD

TUGO FOOD LTD

YEARSLEY FOOD LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...