Across the public sector, food and drink procurement has always been about more than filling plates. The quality, sustainability, and traceability of what’s purchased all matter deeply. But now buyers are being asked to go further, ensuring every contract demonstrates social value as well as cost-effectiveness.

For many organisations, this raises real challenges. How do you balance compliance with accessibility? How do you make sure smaller suppliers aren’t locked out? And how do you turn procurement into something that creates visible benefits for the people you serve?

The Buying Better Food and Drink framework, delivered by Entegra on behalf of Crown Commercial Service, was designed with these challenges in mind. It gives buyers a compliant and flexible way to source food and drink, while also removing barriers to SME producers.

What makes the framework different?

Unlike traditional procurement routes, the framework has been built to unlock social value in practical, measurable ways. Here’s how:

Boosting Regional Economies: Buyers can nominate their preferred suppliers for inclusion. Entegra then manages all the vetting and compliance checks, giving trusted SME partners a clear pathway into public supply chains. The result? More spend kept within communities and shorter, more resilient supply chains.

Creating Access for SMEs: Many small and medium-sized enterprises don’t have the time or expertise to manage a full public sector tender. The framework lowers the barrier by allowing nominated SMEs to join if they meet the designated standards, without having to go through a full traditional tender on their own. Entegra ensures suppliers are compliant prior to being added, and once live they just need to go through a simple benchmarking process prior to any business award. Therefore, buyers benefit from greater choice and compliance while suppliers gain fairer access.

Educating the Community: For schools using the framework, suppliers can run activities that help young people understand where their food comes from — from farm visits to classroom demonstrations. These opportunities are coordinated by Entegra, making it simple to connect education with food supply.

Hosting Supplier Introduction Days: The framework also supports supplier showcase events, where buyers can meet producers, explore new products, and hear about their sustainability credentials firsthand. Entegra organises these days, helping suppliers raise their profile and buyers make more confident, informed decisions.

Procurement with Purpose

The Procurement Act sets a higher bar for public sector buying, but it also creates an opportunity to do more with every pound spent. The Buying Better Food and Drink framework, delivered by Entegra, makes it possible to stay compliant, achieve value for money, and deliver measurable benefits for your community.

If you’d like to explore how the framework can support your organisation’s goals, get in touch with the Entegra team today.