Cost and Procurement Policy for food purchased in Stormont.

Question 1

Is there a procurement policy in place for the purchasing of food products?

Response

At present, it is the responsibility of Eurest to purchase food products for the Northern Ireland Assembly through the Support Services contract, and therefore there is no Assembly procurement policy specifically in place for the purchasing of food products. Eurest however set strict guidelines on the purchase of all food to ensure it is procured by companies to ensure compliance with food hygiene legislation.

Question 2

Is there any commitment to buying local food produce?

Response

Prior to the award of contract, the Northern Ireland Assembly made its commitment to using local food produce clear, when it stated, “The use of local produce should also be considerable.” Eurest endeavours to purchase produce from local sources where possible. Our commitment is to provide the Assembly with produce sourced from within N.I.

Question 3

Is there any commitment to healthy eating?

Response

Prior to the award of contract to Eurest, the Assembly made its commitment to healthy eating clear, when it stated that “The Contractor shall promote healthy eating and shall encourage a reduction in salt, sugar and fats, and an increase in foods high in dietary fibre.” Eurest have a full commitment to healthy eating to ensure a good work life balance. For example, Eurest have implemented a Balanced Choice programme to ensure users can make sound nutritional choices depending on their own dietary programme. In addition, a menu specific to healthy eating food items is currently being developed, and will be available on the intranet within the Assembly and also on the menu boards in the catering venues.

Question 4

How much is spent each year, for the last 10 years, on food, catering and food products?

Response

The current record of accounts held by the Assembly Commission date back to March 2001. The figures that highlight spends on catering, food and food products are based on the total Catering sales for each month, minus the total Gross Profit that is returned to the Assembly. In the case of the previous contractor, Mount Charles, who held the contract until February 2007, the gross profit that was returned to the Assembly from the catering sales was 45% each month. The current contractor, Eurest who commenced the provision of Support Services in March 2007, is contracted to return 51.1% of catering sales each month.

Year – 2001/02

Month	Catering Sales minus %GP return (£)
March 2001	32477.76
April 2001	28609.14
May 2001	38765.37
June 2001	44723.11
July 2001	26483.41
August 2001	17683.37
September 2001	32491.35
October 2001	26921.28
November 2001	31330.40
December 2001	32775.13
January 2002	11621.44
February 2002	16008.71
TOTAL	339890.47

Year – 2002/03

Month	Catering Sales minus %GP return (£)
March 2002	30533.71
April 2002	17898.53
May 2002	25893.46
June 2002	33054.38
July 2002	14857.82
August 2002	12013.31
September 2002	30506.30
October 2002	26921.28
November 2002	18494.97
December 2002	20718.71
January 2003	8142.51
February 2003	17369.89
TOTAL	256404.87

Year – 2003/04

Month	Catering Sales minus %GP return (£)
March 2003	25486.34
April 2003	13261.15
May 2003	10649.35
June 2003	21692.68
July 2003	8329.47
August 2003	7327.69
September 2003	21356.89
October 2003	17039.63
November 2003	11595.08
December 2003	12329.67
January 2004	6707.68
February 2004	16137.36
TOTAL	171912.99

Year 2004/05

Month	Catering Sales minus %GP return (£)
March 2004	15766.90
April 2004	10122.80
May 2004	17928.45
June 2004	21927.56
July 2004	9814.68
August 2004	8718.96
September 2004	21117.91
October 2004	15514.70
November 2004	19955.28
December 2004	22568.98
January 2005	7232.45
February 2005	10957.10
TOTAL	181625.77

Year 2005/06

Month	Catering Sales minus %GP return (£)
March 2005	18689.69
April 2005	9626.29
May 2005	12692.79
June 2005	23637.90
July 2005	13965.94
August 2005	7447.46
September 2005	17625.78
October 2005	17397.84
November 2005	15183.25
December 2005	23944.03
January 2006	9843.31
February 2006	13771.91
TOTAL	183826.19

Year 2006/07

Month	Catering Sales minus %GP return (£)
March 2006	21187.55
April 2006	12753.32
May 2006	21226.36
June 2006	24517.81
July 2006	12059.00
August 2006	9105.24
September 2006	24832.27
October 2006	20441.82
November 2006	21093.08
December 2006	24030.25
January 2007	11845.59
February 2007	36437.17
TOTAL	239529.46

Year 2007/08

Month	Catering Sales minus %GP return (£)
March 2007	12040.09
April 2007	15608.83
May 2007	26516.74
June 2007	37825.61
July 2007	20777.47
August 2007	15340.19
September 2007	26994.96
October 2007	30240.13
November 2007	35564.80
December 2007	34754.77
January 2008	18678.31
February 2008	30174.81
TOTAL	304516.71

Year 2008/09

Month	Catering Sales minus %GP return (£)
March 2008	38697.00