Provision of Retail Catering Services
WIRRAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTEstimated Value
Not specified
Deadline
Not specified
Published
9 June 2026
Type
services
Overview
Provision of retail catering services. Contract period is 10 years.
Provision of outsourced retail catering services. Additional information: This procurement was conducted as a further competition exercise against the Government Commercial Agency (formerly Crown Commercial Services) Framework Agreement RM6331, Lot 4B.
Suppliers awarded onto Lot 4B were invited to tender. The contract is income generating by means of lease contract.
AI Analysis
Powered by AI — always verify against official documents
The UK government is looking for a catering company to run a retail food and beverage service for 10 years. This is a further competition under an existing government framework (RM6331, Lot 4B), so only suppliers already approved on that framework were invited to bid. The operator will generate income through a lease arrangement rather than being paid a fixed fee by the government.
Requirements
- Must be an approved supplier on Government Commercial Agency Framework Agreement RM6331, Lot 4B
- Must be able to operate retail catering services
- Must be able to commit to a 10-year contract period
- Must comply with lease contract financial model (income-generating arrangement)
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Plan, set up, and operate a retail catering outlet (food and drink service)
- Source and supply food, beverages, and catering equipment
- Staff and manage daily catering operations for 10 years
- Manage lease payments to the government as per the income-generating model
- Meet food hygiene, health and safety, and trading standards regulations
How to Read This Tender
- 1This is a 'further competition' — it's not open to all suppliers, only those already vetted and approved on RM6331 Lot 4B. Check if you're on that framework before spending time bidding.
- 2The phrase 'income generating by means of lease contract' means the catering operator pays rent/lease fees to the government rather than receiving a government subsidy. You'll need to forecast takings and margins carefully.
- 3A 10-year contract is a major commitment. Look for: break clauses, renewal terms, how rent is reviewed, and what happens if footfall drops significantly.
- 4Request the full tender documents to find details on: the location and size of the catering outlet, expected customer numbers, rent amount or calculation method, and performance standards (opening hours, menu, service levels).
- 5Watch for hidden costs: staffing, utilities, maintenance, equipment replacement, insurance, and waste disposal will all affect your profitability.
Tips for Small Businesses
- If you're on RM6331 Lot 4B but catering isn't your main business, consider partnering with (or subcontracting to) an experienced catering specialist to manage day-to-day operations while you handle the contract and compliance.
- 10 years is a long lease — negotiate hard on rent review clauses and break options. Try to tie rent increases to inflation (RPI) rather than fixed increases, and push for a break clause after 5 years in case the location underperforms.
- Request financial forecasts and footfall data from the government before bidding. A retail catering lease that looks profitable at 10,000 customers per week might collapse at 5,000. Use this data to stress-test your bid.
Award Details
Compass Group Holdings
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Buyer Profile
WIRRAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTKey Dates
Published
9 June 2026
Submission deadline
Not specified
Notice type
award
Source
find a tender
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