School catering is a large, steady area of public-sector spending. Councils, multi-academy trusts and individual schools buy meal provision, kitchen management and food supply through formal tenders, often on multi-year contracts. If you supply food or run catering, these contracts can give you a dependable base of work — but only if you find and bid for them in time. This guide explains where school catering tenders appear, what buyers expect, and how to make sure you never miss a fit.
This is general guidance, not procurement advice. Always read the tender pack and confirm requirements with the buyer.
Where school catering tenders are published
School meal contracts surface in several places depending on who is buying and how much it is worth:
- Contracts Finder for English authorities above roughly £12,000.
- Find a Tender for higher-value notices.
- Council and trust portals — many academies and trusts run their own buying, and smaller catering contracts often appear only on their sites.
- Framework call-offs — some catering is bought through regional or national frameworks rather than fresh tenders.
Because so much catering is bought locally, watching one national portal is not enough. Tendarix aggregates the central sources and hundreds of buyer-side portals so school catering opportunities land in one feed — see our school catering page and the broader food and beverage procurement page.
What buyers expect from a catering bid
School catering is heavily scored on quality and safety, not just price. Expect to evidence:
- Nutrition standards — compliance with the School Food Standards and balanced, age-appropriate menus.
- Allergen management — clear processes for the 14 named allergens and individual pupil needs.
- Food safety — strong hygiene ratings, HACCP processes and trained staff.
- Free school meals — reliable delivery of universal infant and benefits-based free school meals.
- Social value — local sourcing, reducing food waste and supporting the community.
School catering is a trust business. Buyers are placing the wellbeing of children in your hands, so evidence of safety and nutrition often matters more than being the cheapest.
How to price school meals
Price per meal is built from ingredients, labour, kitchen costs, waste and a fair margin. Be realistic: term-time-only patterns, fluctuating pupil numbers and rising food costs all affect viability. Buyers increasingly scrutinise bids that look too cheap to deliver the required standards.
Mobilisation and staffing (including TUPE)
Winning the contract is only half the job — you then have to take it over smoothly, often before the new term starts. Buyers want a credible mobilisation plan: how you will recruit or transfer staff, set up the kitchen, agree menus and pass food-safety checks from day one. Where you take over an existing service, TUPE may apply, meaning the current catering staff transfer to you on their existing terms. Build the cost and management of any transferring team into your price and your plan, and show the buyer you have done this before. A confident, specific mobilisation plan reassures a buyer far more than a low price with no detail behind it.
Find live school catering tenders now
To see what is open today:
- Browse the food and beverages category (CPV division 15) and the catering and hospitality services category (CPV division 55).
- Filter by your area, for example tenders in London.
- Run a free Tender Fit Report — describe your catering business and instantly see the tenders that fit best.
New to public bidding? Read our beginner guide to winning your first government contract first.
Never miss a catering opportunity
Set up a saved search so new school catering notices come to you, and watch the specific councils and trusts you want to supply. That way you start preparing your bid on day one rather than scrambling before a deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Can a small caterer win school contracts against national providers?
Yes. Local, single-site and cluster contracts often suit SMEs well, and buyers increasingly value fresh, locally sourced food and responsive service — areas where smaller caterers excel.
Do academies and trusts buy differently from councils?
Often, yes. Academies and multi-academy trusts have more freedom in how they buy, which means more opportunities published on their own portals rather than centrally. That is exactly the long tail Tendarix is built to surface.
Where are the official standards?
Check the School Food Standards and food safety guidance on GOV.UK, and always follow the specific tender requirements.
Want school catering tenders in your inbox? Run a free Tender Fit Report or subscribe to our newsletter.
