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GFC27 Supply & Distribution of Grocery, Frozen, Chilled & Catering Supplies

THE UNIVERSITY CATERERS ORGANISATION LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

06 Oct 2026 at 08:30

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

23 May 2025 at 09:17

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO) plans to establish a framework for supplying and distributing food and catering supplies to its university, college, local authority and wider public-sector members and clients. Products include ambient groceries such as canned and dried fruit and vegetables, baking products, rice, pasta, sauces and drinks; chilled goods including dairy, bacon, cured meats and sandwich fillings; and frozen meat, poultry, fish, chips, vegetables, bread and pastry products. Specialist vegan and vegetarian foodservice products and relevant catering supplies are also in scope. The procurement is for goods, with distribution included. The buying organisation is based in Manchester; supplies are intended for TUCO members and clients across the public sector.

This process is at planning stage: TUCO has announced its intention to procure and is undertaking preliminary market engagement; there is no invitation to tender yet. It expects to publish a further procurement notice on 26 October 2026. Interested suppliers are asked to contact TUCO by 21 October 2026 to request an overview presentation. TUCO says the presentation will give an overview of the organisation and tender, share findings from a member feedback questionnaire, and explain the procurement process and tender portal. The expected route is a closed framework agreement, with one lot and an envisaged one-stop-shop option. The framework is planned to run initially from 1 May 2027 to 30 April 2029, with a maximum duration of four years, potentially extending to 30 April 2031. Estimated spend is £80 million annually and £320 million over the maximum four years. Evaluation criteria have not yet been set out.

The procurement may suit food wholesalers and distributors able to supply a broad foodservice range, including ambient grocery, chilled and frozen foods, specialist vegan and vegetarian products, and catering supplies. TUCO envisages suppliers covering the full product scope of the lot, so businesses with broad product availability and the capacity to fulfil varied orders are likely to be well placed; the proposed one-stop-shop option may favour suppliers able to consolidate supply. Small and medium-sized businesses are marked as suitable, although the breadth of the range means firms should consider whether they can meet the full scope, potentially through partnerships or supply arrangements. TUCO has already gathered feedback from member customers and plans to share its findings and procurement guidance with interested suppliers through an overview presentation. This engagement offers a way to understand the buyer’s requirements and prepare before the tender is issued.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

GFC27 Supply & Distribution of Grocery, Frozen, Chilled & Catering Supplies

Notice Description

The purpose of this planned procurement is to establish a (closed) framework for the supply and distribution of Grocery, Frozen, Chilled foods and Catering supplies to members and clients of TUCO (Universities, Colleges, Local Authorities 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 PS80m The total spend through the (closed) framework (over the maximum 4 years) is estimated at PS320m The scope of products to be covered in the framework are as follows but not limited to: canned and dried fruit and vegetables, baking products, rice, pasta, sauces, beverages, cheese, milk, bacon, cured meats, sandwich fillings and all other grocery, ambient and chilled foods. meat, poultry, fish, chips, vegetables, bread, patisserie, vienoisserie, cheese, milk, bacon, cured meats, sandwich fillings and any other frozen and chilled foods. meat, poultry, fish, cheese, bacon, yoghurts, sandwich fillings and any other chilled foods. specialist vegan and vegetarian food products suitable for use in foodservice. Relevant catering supplies It is envisaged that suppliers will be able to cover the full scope of products for each lot. The framework is likely to include the option of a one-stop shop.

Planning Information

The purpose of this notice is to provide interested parties with an overview of The University Caterer’s Organisation and insight into the forthcoming tender opportunity for Grocery, Frozen, Chilled & Catering Supplies This notice is not an invitation to tender, but an invitation to prospective suppliers to contact the authority should they wish to receive a copy presentation providing an overview of TUCO Ltd Grocery, Frozen, Chilled & Catering Supplies tender. In preparation for the tender process, we have carried out market research using a feedback questionnaire with our members (customers), the key findings of which are detailed within the presentation which we are happy to share. The presentation also gives guidance on the procurement process and details about our tendering portal and how to register. We wish to ensure that all parties wishing to tender have access to the same information enabling them to consider the opportunity. In fairness to all parties, we will ensure that each supplier request for information regarding this procurement will be subject to the same response, sharing our pre-prepared overview presentation. Please contact the authority by email to Hannah.myton@tuco.ac.uk and cc info@tuco.ac.uk to request an overview presentation regarding the opportunity.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051ffb
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094041-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

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

CPV Codes

15000000 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

39222000 - Catering supplies

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
26 Oct 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 May 2027 - 30 Apr 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

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

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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