---
title: "Market Data on Food and Drink Products - Engagement"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06b96e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06b96e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b96e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b96e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE"
published: "2026-06-19"
---

# Market Data on Food and Drink Products - Engagement

Buyer: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06b96e

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## Summary

The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) is initiating a procurement process for securing commercially available market data on food and drink products from retailers, manufacturers, and the out-of-home sector. This planning stage, announced on 19 June 2026, is a precursor to a full tender process expected later in the year, with potential contracts starting from 1 January 2027. The focus is on services related to data analysis, with the current phase scheduled to close on 17 July 2026. DHSC, located at 39 Victoria Street, London, is seeking responses from interested parties that can supply data encompassing nutrition and sales, which will inform government policy and support the implementation of associated analyses.

This opportunity is ideal for businesses that specialise in data collection and analysis, particularly those with a strong presence in sectors such as retail data acquisition and nutritional analytics. Companies capable of providing comprehensive datasets on the UK food and drink market, including volume and value sales across various sectors, are encouraged to participate. The ability to offer detailed information on both routine data collections and bespoke data requirements, coupled with competitive pricing, presents a growth opportunity for data analytics firms looking to expand their footprint in government contracts. This engagement provides a platform to showcase expertise in handling extensive market data and delivering actionable insights into consumer behaviour, dietary trends, and economic impacts.

## Notice

Unfortunately, we couldn't upload a word doc with all the information on so it is inputted into the description below and engagement info section. If you'd like a copy then please contact Georgina.smyth@dhsc.gov.uk The purpose of this market engagement exercise is to secure details for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on the availability and cost of commercially available market data on food and drink products sold by retailers, manufacturers and the out of home sector. The exercise also asks for costs of data analysis. This information is being sought to inform an expected future tender exercise for the future supply of this data to the Department. Responses should cover which parts of the requirements you can provide. You do not need to be able to cover every part in order to provide a response. For example, your response would be valid and acceptable if you are only able to provide nutrition data for the out of home sector. 1. Sectors and outlets The Department is looking for a contractor or contractors that can supply data on the sales and nutrient content of food and drink purchases made from: shops - including main supermarkets, smaller food shops e.g. Spar, Premier Stores, non-traditional food retailers e.g. Primark, farmers and other indoor or outdoor markets, cash and carry, wholesalers etc as well as online purchasing. This should include both manufacturer branded and supermarket own-brand products. eating out of home businesses - including principally high street chain restaurants, bakeries, sandwich shops, cafes, fast food outlets, pubs, takeaways etc. This should include both manufacturer branded or other ready made products bought in and food and drink products made on site. This should include purchases made online via apps, websites etc. Brief details should be provided on the methodology and processes used to collect the data including the frequency of data collection and the likely age of the data that will be provided e.g. no older than 4 months old, 12 months, 3 years etc. Businesses are asked to provide information on standard data that is collected routinely e.g. sales and nutrition data for all supermarkets; and on additional data that can be provided but would require specific collection e.g. nutrition information for the out of home sector. Where specific data collection is needed, please provide brief details of the process used. Businesses should also provide details of the proportion of each market that is covered by its data e.g. 95% of the retail market, 92% of food manufacturers, 60% of the out of home market. If this differs between sales and nutrition data, please give these proportions separately. Please also provide details of which parts of the market you are not able to provide data on and why. Please provide a timeframe for producing the required data and how long before delivery of the data confirmation would need to be given of the data purchase e.g. 6 months between confirmation and delivery of the dataset. Please provide any additional information that you think would be helpful at this stage. 2. Products to be included Retailers and manufacturers - all food and drink products sold in store, both pre-packed and loose including in store bakery items, fruit and vegetables, meat and fish from instore counters. The data should also capture sandwiches and other "on the go" food and drink products, commercial baby food and drink, all infant and follow on formula, alcoholic and low/no alcohol drinks and diet and weight loss food and drink products. It should not include dietary supplements. Eating out of home businesses - all food and drink products listed on the menu including children's menus and dishes. Please provide * any relevant information on the products for which you routinely collect data and any that you do not. * details of your product category structure and how products are assigned to categories * information on whether you are able to categorise products to different category structures e.g. according to the main categories in the Eatwell Guide Please provide any additional information that you think would be helpful at this stage. 3. Product data Retailers and manufacturers The data should be available for at least the last 3 years and should include the following as a basic dataset: * Product name * Product weight (e.g. 350g) or volume (500ml) * Pack size (if appropriate e.g. 4 x 50g) * Price * Volume sales * Value sales * Nutrition information per 100g for nutrients given on pack, including vitamins and minerals where provided o Energy (kcal/kJ) o Fat (g) Of which saturates (g) o Carbohydrate (g) Of which sugars (g) o Fibre (g) o Protein (g) o Salt (g) * Nutrition information per serving, where given, including the weight of the portion * Whether the nutrition information is for the product as sold or as consumed. If the nutrition information is for the product as consumed, any information given within the nutrition panel on the dilution factor (e.g. 20ml squash, 200ml water) or cooking method (e.g. fried, baked) used should also be provided. * Date the data was collected * Basic relevant company information * Any product categorisation used Eating out of home businesses The data should be available for at least the last 3 years and should include the following as a basic dataset: * Product name * Serving size as weight (e.g. 350g) or volume (500ml) where available * Price * Volume sales * Value sales * Nutrition information per serving and per 100g for nutrients for which data is available, which is likely to be o Energy (kcal/kJ) o Fat (g) Of which saturates (g) o Carbohydrate (g) Of which sugars (g) o Fibre (g) o Protein (g) o Salt (g) * Date the data was collected * Basic relevant company information * Any product categorisation used Please state if it is possible to provide the following information for retailers and manufacturers and/or eating out of home businesses: * Ingredients given on product packaging or menus * Any diet or nutrition claims included on product packaging or menus * Overall Nutrient Profile Model score for each product for which nutrition information is provided, based on the 2018 model (published 2026), and the separate scores for free sugars and the fruit, vegetable and nut component * Classification of products as (ultra) processed foods against the NOVA classification system Please also provide brief details in the following areas if not already done so: * Methodology used to collect and QA the nutrition and other related data, how data gaps are filled * Feasibility of providing a fully comprehensive data dictionary for the datasets for both retailers and manufacturers, and the out of home sector. This should explain how recalculated columns are calculated - including details of which columns are used as well as providing column descriptions. * Frequency of data collection * Information on the reliability and weaknesses, and quality, of the nutrition and related data Please provide any additional information that you think would be helpful at this stage.

### Planning Information

4. Additional data 
Please provide information on whether it is possible to provide the following information and, if so, how that data is collected if not already provided:
Demographics – data on age, sex, geographical location, ethnicity, socio-economic status and household composition (e.g. young family, retired etc), whether a member of the household is using weight loss medication e.g. GLP1
Retailer data – for manufacturers branded products, this covers the proportion of sales of each product for each of the major retailers. 
Please provide any additional information that you think would be helpful at this stage. 
5. Analysis 
The data will be used to support development and implementation of government policy based on a variety of analysis that will be carried out using the data. The contractor(s) may need to undertake some of this analysis - previous examples of the analysis that may be required are listed below with their related online publication:
Cost of living Changes in food and drink purchasing behaviour and the impact on diet and nutrition: 2021 to 2023 - GOV.UK
Drinks data Sugar reduction in drinks: 2015 to 2024 - GOV.UK
Please provide estimated timescales and costs for undertaking these different types of analysis.
There would also need to be complete confidentiality between the contractor and DHSC around any contracted analysis, until it was published by DHSC. 
Any analysis conducted for DHSC cannot be shared with other clients, or internally within the contractors’ organisation, unless express permission is given by DHSC. 
Please provide any additional information that you think would be helpful at this stage. 
6. Data sharing with OGDs, academics etc
DHSC works with several other government departments and a number of academics in delivering its work. Please provide details of whether data purchased by DHSC can be shared with these parties. If some data can be shared while some cannot, or if some instances allow for data sharing but others do not, please provide clear details of what is permitted and what is not. If there are increased costs associated with sharing data with these parties, please provide details of these additional costs. It would also be useful to know if it’s possible to share data once it is of less commercial value e.g. 3 years old.
Please provide any additional information that you think would be helpful at this stage. 
7. First data commission
The first data commission to the successful contractor will be to provide a volume sales and nutrition dataset on the commercial baby food market. Where relevant, the nutrition data should be collected after 1 March 2027 and should be no more than 3 months old when supplied to DHSC, although as this is a small product category it is hoped that the data collection, where necessary, will take less time than this. 
Please provide any information on this commission that you think would be helpful at this stage. 
8. Contract 
Following the completion of the market engagement exercise a full tender process will follow to identify a suitable supplier or suppliers. 
The contract, once tendered for, a supplier identified and contracts signed, is expected to run for 3 years. Datasets and/or analysis will be commissioned at specific points during the lifetime of the contract, with likely delivery points being set out as part of the contracting process. The contract is expected to start towards the end of this calendar year. 
A break clause will be in place after the delivery of each dataset or piece of analysis work that will allow the Department to decide to not commission further datasets, analysis or other work. 
Please provide any information relevant to these points including any anticipated benefits or issues with working in this way ie issues with staff availability, retention or redeployment; does having a contract for this period of time deliver any financial discounts or value for money, does it ensure smoother data collection and preparation?
Please provide any additional information that you think would be helpful at this stage. 
9. Costs
Please provide the cost of the provision of each dataset:
• Nutrition and sales data for food and drink purchased from shops
• Nutrition and sales data for food purchased from out of home businesses 
Please also provide costs for data that is not routinely collected or provided but would need to be in order to fulfil the Department’s requirements set out in this document. 
Please ensure all costs are given both inclusive and exclusive of VAT, also showing the amount of VAT payable. 
If there are any options for providing cost savings to the department, please provide details. 
Please provide any additional information that you think would be helpful at this stage. 
10. Payments 
As is the case across central government departments, DHSC cannot make upfront payments to suppliers ie before any work has been completed. Payments are generally made once an agreed milestone or KPI has been met. For example, for previous data contracts one payment was made on delivery of an initial dataset or analytical output, with a second payment being made once a final dataset or output had been provided, after any changes or corrections had been completed. 
An alternative way of making payments is to pay a proportion of the total cost on a monthly basis. 
Please provide information on how your payment system usually works and whether the above way of operating causes any problems. Please also provide information on whether any particular payment method may provide added value or be beneficial to the Department. 
Please provide any additional information that you think would be helpful at this stage. 
11. Risks 
Please provide information on any risks or issues that could stop or impact the collection, processing or provision of data or analysis; as well as the mitigations and actions that would be in place to prevent these from occurring as much as possible.
If any such issues have arisen in the last 3 years please provide information on what these were and how they were overcome. 
Please provide any additional information that you think would be helpful at this stage. 
Further information 
Please provide any further information that you feel it is important to provide at this stage and that has not been included in this specification. It may be an area we have missed or something additional that you are able to provide or offer that you haven’t yet had the opportunity to provide details for. 
All responses will be confidential and will be considered and reviewed when drafting the final tender documents, specification and contract. 
Responses
Please send any responses to Georgina Smyth Georgina.Smyth@dhsc.gov.uk by 5pm on Friday 17 July 2026. This email address should also be used for any questions you may have about this market engagement exercise.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058207-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 19 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Sep 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1H 0EU |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 72316000 - Data analysis services

## Release History

- 19 Jun 2026 at 14:27 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058207-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058207-2026
  19th June 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06b96e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b96e.json.