Further strengthening its position and increasing stakeholder value across procurement and compliance, TUCO (The University Caterers Organisation) has recently re-negotiated a number of its key framework agreements in order to drive even greater value and added-value service when it comes to buying catering products through its frameworks.
Responding to market demands, it has extended its services to local authorities operating in broader market channels.
Traditionally TUCO has operated on behalf of Higher and Further education’ institutions, which make up its core membership. However, as part of its new approach and growing market presence TUCO has extended its framework agreements for use by other public bodies such as local authorities, hospitals and healthcare and charitable institutions potentially benefiting the wider public sector through a best practice ethos.
Local authorities who utilise TUCO’s framework agreements will automatically be fully compliant with legislative requirement, (which states that purchases over £173,934 must be spent through a compliant contract or agreement) whilst also being able to benefit from the organisation’s collective spending power in excess of £125 million, boosting its ability to lead the market and offer highly competitive prices.
Importantly, TUCO is unique in being not-for-profit, passing larger savings onto those using its framework agreements as well as re-investing in its members via training and skills development programmes.
All TUCO framework agreements are independently audited, with all stages of the process documented for transparency. Categories cover food, beverages and catering related products and are always entered into, with additional factors in mind such as costs, safety, market trends and product appeal.
In using a framework agreement members and related organisations mitigate huge risk that comes with making independent purchasing decisions.
Recently negotiated TUCO framework agreements include fresh and frozen meat and light catering equipment.