Defra has announced a new Food Marketplace to help UK food producers win public sector contracts worth £1.2bn each year.
The Food Marketplace has been described as the place for buyers and suppliers of food to source and advertise products and services.
The online portal brings together a myriad of standards and guidance to provide the scorecard assessment.
Defra said the scorecard brings a consistent buying approach across the public sector which embraces the key elements required for excellent procurement of food.
Defra's Plan for Public Procurement aims to improve standards in the food supply chain, open up the supply chain to a wider range of companies and support a "competitive and sustainable" food and farming sector.
Food supply chain
Dr Peter Bonfield, procurement expert and author of A Plan for Public Procurement, explains why participation is key to this government initiative.
“We set out to ensure that public sector procurement of food and catering services maximises the health outcomes of those people affected by it, in a way that boosts support for a vibrant and competitive UK food and farming sector and which delivers the best value per pound spent.
“This streamlined portal makes it easier to register your business’s products and services and connects all involved in the food supply chain – from producers to caterers and public sector buyers – and will be key to delivering greater value for money in public food procurement.”
