Project to Improve School Food Procurement Practices

Buyer

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Estimated value

£2m

Location

London

Deadline

25 November 2026

Published

28 October 2026

Category

School catering services

Trade

Catering and food

Suitable for SMEs

Not flagged

View the official notice on Find a Tender

In plain English

DEFRA seeks to improve school food procurement practices in England to enhance sustainability, reduce waste, and engage pupils with the food system. No special requirements are stated.

Description from the notice

The Government seeks to improve public sector food procurement (PSFP). Subject to legal constraints, it aims for half of all public sector food to be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards. The new National Procurement Policy Statement, published in February 2025, sets expectations for government contracts to favour products meeting higher environmental standards. This project supports these ambitions by improving school food procurement practices which will lead to enhanced food quality and sustainability, reduced food waste and primary and secondary pupils being better engaged with the food system. Schools account for approximately half of public sector food and catering expenditure and are therefore central to delivery of PSFP ambitions. This is particularly important given childhood obesity and persistent health inequalities. In England, about one in three children leave primary school overweight or obese;