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<p>The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) continues to work alongside the national food industry, including the Federation of Wholesale Distributors, to make sure that supplier concerns are being factored into the development of the proposed agreement on Food and Drink.</p><p>SMEs are crucial to the food supply chain and have been consulted as part of national supplier engagement, and suppliers and distributors in the Battersea constituency were included in this. Feedback from this shaped the procurement strategy for the framework agreement.</p><p>This Conservative Government has made sure SME producers will have increased opportunities to work with the public sector through the agreement and customers will be able to request nominated local products . These products would be consolidated into a single delivery with their food order.This will also be the first procurement for CCS in the food market, which will actually bring additional choice to public sector food buyers.</p><p>Finally, in terms of food quality standards, CCS has worked closely with Defra on this agreement to ensure there will be adherence to the updated Government Buying Standards for Food.</p><p><strong></strong><br><br></p><p> </p> |