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Supply & Distribution of Various Foods

Cumberland Council

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

Award

25 Aug 2026 at 10:51

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

22 Jul 2026 at 14:46

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

01 May 2026 at 11:46

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

19 Mar 2026 at 13:26

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

19 Mar 2026 at 10:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

23 May 2025 at 08:45

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cumberland Council procured the supply and distribution of food across Cumberland for council care sites, council sites and maintained schools that do not use third-party school meal providers. The requirement covers four food-supply areas: fresh meat and fish; fresh fruit and vegetables; frozen foods; and groceries and provisions. The fourth area includes fresh milk, fresh bread and morning goods, fresh sandwich fillings, salads, cooked meats and soft drinks. Distribution is required to all eligible sites across the Cumberland Council area. The care estate currently comprises eight care homes and nine day centres. There are 75 maintained schools in the area, of which 31 currently meet the eligibility condition, although schools must opt in and the number using the arrangement may change.

The procurement has been awarded and the contract is active. P.F.D.(CARLISLE)LIMITED was selected to supply all four lots: Fresh Meat & Fish (£162,149); Fresh Fruit & Vegetables (£65,050); Frozen Foods (£305,173); and Groceries & Provisions (£536,612). The published award and contract value is £4.5 million including tax. The award date was 22 July 2026, the contract was signed on 18 August 2026, and the contract runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2030, with no extension option. It followed an open procedure. The four-year closed framework allows direct awards without reopening competition, with each lot evaluated separately. Award criteria for every lot were price 40%, quality 40% and social value 20%.

This procurement demonstrates established demand for a food wholesaler or specialist distributor able to provide multiple product ranges and deliver reliably across Cumberland. A credible future competitor would need to manage one complete lot from sourcing through distribution, or demonstrate capacity across several distinct food categories, while serving care homes, day centres, council facilities and schools. The requirement suits small and medium-sized enterprises, but the award outcome indicates the importance of dependable regional logistics, broad product availability and consistent quality. Suppliers should be able to evidence competitive pricing, food quality controls and meaningful social value. Experience supplying public-sector or institutional customers, coordinating deliveries to many sites and meeting varied fresh, frozen and grocery requirements would strengthen their position.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Supply & Distribution of Various Foods

Notice Description

Cumberland Council have a requirement for the supply and distribution of a range of various foods within the footprint of Cumberland Council, these foods will be suitable for Cumberland Care Sites, Cumberland Council Sites and Cumberland Council maintained non-chequebook schools which do not use third party School Meals providers. Cumberland Care sites currently consist of 8 Care Homes and 9 Day Centres. There are currently 75 maintained schools within they footprint of Cumberland Council. Only those schools which do not use a third-party school meals provider will be eligible to access the Framework, this currently applies to 31 schools but is subject to change. The number of schools who will access the Framework is not guaranteed as not all schools will choose to opt in. Schools that are eligible to use the framework will sign an access agreement allowing them to receive framework pricing and benefits however they will be wholly responsible for all framework transactions and will contract directly with the successful supplier(s). This contract will be tendered in 4 lots with each lot being awarded to one supplier. * Lot 1 - Fresh Meat & Fish * Lot 2 - Fresh Fruit & Vegetables * Lot 3 - Frozen Foods * Lot 4 - Groceries & Provisions, including Fresh Milk, Fresh Bread & Morning Goods, Fresh Sandwich Fillings, Salads, Cooked Meats and Soft Drinks. Suppliers will be able to tender for one, more than one, or all Lots. The lots will be evaluated individually, and each lot will be awarded to one supplier who will supply and distribute the full range of goods within the lot to all eligible sites within the footprint of Cumberland Council.

Lot Information

Fresh Meat & Fish Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Frozen Foods Groceries & Provisions

Planning Information

Cumberland Council have a requirement for the supply and distribution of a range of various Foods suitable for use by Cumberland Care Sites, Cumberland Council Sites and Cumberland Council maintained non-chequebook schools which do not use third party School Meals providers. Distribution will be required to sites throughout the footprint of Cumberland Council. This contract will be tendered in 4 lots. Suppliers will be able to tender for one, more than one, or all Lots. The lots will be evaluated individually and each lot will be awarded to one supplier who will supply and distribute throughout the footprint of Cumberland Council. The contract will be for a period of 4 years. The Council will be carrying out an online session on Thursday 16th April 2026 at 10am to 11.00 to further outline the opportunity. This will be available for all prospective suppliers. Please confirm email addresses via the 'messaging area' on The Chest (www.the-chest.org.uk) if you would like to secure a space, a maximum of 2 from each organisation. These must be received before Friday 10th April 2026 at 4.00pm

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051fdf
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080729-2026
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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

CPV Codes

15000000 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,068,984 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£4,500,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£4,500,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
26 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
1 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
22 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cumberland Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CARLISLE
Postcode
CA1 1RD
Postcode Area
Carlisle
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD1 Cumbria
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD13 Cumberland
Delivery Location
TLD1 Cumbria
Local Authority
Cumberland
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Carlisle

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

P.F.D.(CARLISLE)LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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