Private Institutions: Enter Purchasing Commitments

Most institutions purchase through a broadline, or “traditional,” distributor. This is true regardless of whether an institution is working with a management company or is self-operated. While values-based purchasing is not typically part of these purchasing relationships, there are several ways to advance values-based purchasing goals even when working with a traditional distributor.

For many small, values-based vendors, getting approval to sell to a distributor is often easier than getting approval to sell to an institution or management company. Food service management companies and self-operated institutions can have strict, complex approval processes that are difficult for small, values-based vendors to navigate. Because of this, often the best way for values-based vendors to reach institutional markets is through distributors. Working with broadline distributors can be an effective way to increase values-based purchasing.

Values-based considerations are important when an institution is selecting a new distributor. In addition, even under existing distributor contracts, there are several ways to increase the values-based food the distributor sources.