Foodservice Committee
All of the foodservice directors from the Seagate membership are invited to participate in the Foodservice Committee. The committee meets bi-monthly to review and discuss our Local (RRHA-JVC) and National (Premier) foodservice contracts.
Seagate Foodservice Committee meetings are well attended by members from acute as well as long term care, with members representing large and small, urban and rural, upscale and budget-conscious facilities. When surveyed about the value members gained from attending foodservice committee meetings, members indicated that learning about new contract savings opportunities and networking informally with their peers ranked numbers 1 and 2.
The Foodservice Committee actively participates in the RRHA-JVC group purchasing process.
When a local contract is nearing its term, RRHA-JVC staff presents a review of the contract to the committee. Such a review would include annual contract sales, number of members participating, and other pertinent information. The committee then determines whether the contract is worthwhile or should be allowed to expire. If determined to be worthwhile, the committee next determines whether to put the contract out to bid or renew the contract with the current vendor. A number of factors enter into the decision – market conditions, availability of competitive vendors, willingness of the membership to change vendors, etc. If the committee decides to put the contract out to bid, they next discuss potential bidders. Before making the final determination of acceptable vendors, staff invites the potential vendors to present to the Foodservice Committee, often also arranging for product cuttings by the committee. The committee also has the opportunity to provide input regarding any special terms and conditions that should be included as part of the bid. Once the vendors are determined and the special contract terms and conditions have been reviewed and agreed to by the committee, members are asked to complete a Letter of Commitment indicating that they will purchase their requirements for that product category from the winning vendor. It is our members’ commitment to move their business to, or keep their business with, the winning vendor that is the key to the success of the RRHA-JVC contracting process. It is this process and our history of moving market share that is the reason for our competitive pricing.
The Foodservice Committee discusses and implements Premier CMA contracts.
The Premier CMA‘s (Committed Manufacturer Agreements) are key to member foodservice savings. At each Seagate Foodservice Committee meeting, new CMA’s are discussed. We will often arrange for sampling or cuttings to compare CMA products along with reviewing the financial comparison, highlighting savings opportunities. Our discussions and decisions impact what US Foods brings into stock.
Kathleen Karnath, Director of Contract Administration, represents Seagate on the Premier Foodservice Committee; she is one of 20 Premier members from around the country on the committee. Just as our Seagate Foodservice Committee participates in the local contracting process, the Premier Foodservice Committee participates in the Premier foodservice contracting process. Kathleen shares that information (as confidentiality permits) with the committee and makes sure that Seagate gets prompt information regarding new CMA contracts, savings opportunities, stocking, etc.
We invite any and every Seagate member foodservice director to come to our next Foodservice Committee meeting. Please contact your Seagate Account Manager for the date, time, and location of the next meeting!