Purpose

To award a contract for a food supplier at The Hive for
four years. This will be for both Community Meals and Activity Hub
services.

Content

To approve the award and
entering in to the Food
Supply Services contract at The
Hive to Apetito Ltd for an
initial period of three years with an option to
extend for a further one year commencing on 1 July 2025,
at a total contract sum cost of £472,598.58
for three years (£630,131.44 including the extension
year). 

Reasons for the decision

1.    
The Council is responsible for the
provision of daily meals at The Hive, for both the Community Meals
service and the Activities Hub which serves vulnerable adults
living within the borough. 
2.    
A
competitive procurement exercise was conducted under
the ESPO Framework Agreement 58_23 Ready Meals Lot
1. Apetito Ltd demonstrated clear value for
money and provided the Council with confidence in its ability to
deliver a consistent and reliable supply of high-quality
meals. 
 

Alternative options considered

11.1 Do
nothing – This option was
dismissed as it would have a detrimental reputational impact on the
Council and would fail to support vulnerable residents who rely on
this service. Taking no action would risk leaving those in need
without appropriate provision and would be inconsistent
with the Council’s responsibilities and strategic
priorities. 
11.2 Bring the Service
In-House – This option was
dismissed as it is not feasible without substantial
investment in both staffing and equipment. The level of
resource required to establish and operate an
in-house service would be significant and disproportionate, making
this option neither practical nor cost-effective for the
Council. 
11.3 Award the
Contract – This is the
recommended option. The procurement process was conducted in
full accordance with the relevant legislation and tailored to the
specific requirements of the market sector. This approach resulted
in the submission of a high-quality bid
that demonstrated strong value for money and fully meets
the service requirements. Awarding the contract will ensure the
continued delivery of a reliable and effective service.