Page 210 - Bord Bia - Irish Foodservice Directory 2024

The Company’s 50-mile menu programme underpins this ethos: any dishes
carrying this brand must be 100% comprised of ingredients that have been
sourced within 50 miles of the kitchen.

Each site has their own key suppliers for fresh meat (usually a local
butcher); fish (local fishmonger); fresh bread & bakery, locally grown
vegetables and often additional menu items that are “hero” products in a
geographical area or region.

Purchasing policy and supplier requirements

The Company is committed to buying locally where possible and the
default position is to buy within the local community even if this incurs a
slight additional cost.

If a product is not made in Ireland, the Company’s preference is to source it
from within the EU.

The Company’s sourcing decisions are balanced between quality, pricing,
and consistency of service / product. In particular, the Company is looking
for high quality foods & ingredients that can meet to quality and traceability
standards, as well as ethical financial and business sustainability checks.

FoodSpace as part of the Apleona Group has stringent food safety
requirements. HSE (Health, Safety & Environmental) is the Company’s
number one priority. It is imperative that any potential supplier is in a
position to demonstrate their own HSE credentials.

All direct suppliers of food and beverage products are required to hold third
party food safety accreditation in line with the company’s approval criteria.
Recognised criteria and schemes would include BRC, IFS, SALSA, STS Public
Sector Standard, Bord Bia Quality Assurance certification, EIQA Q Mark for
Hygiene and Food Safety, ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000.

The Company employs internal auditors to audit all suppliers that would
be considered in a high risk category. External Auditors are also used when
appropriate.

Each site currently orders individually by phone, fax or e-mail. Both chilled
and frozen storage facilities are available on each site.

The Company expects suppliers to be compliant in terms of packaging and
labelling requirements. Supplier’s delivery schedules must be in line with
agreed windows.

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