Supply Direct has recently announced its new catering contract with the Kings Lynn NHS Trust. Won in a noncompetitive pitch, Supply Direct will work with the Trust on a one-year trial with an opportunity to extend the contract for an additional three years.
She said: “Our primary aim at the Trust is to save money and with budgets being squeezed all the time Supply Direct offered us an opportunity to substantiality reduce our costs. We used to feed 450 patients at a cost of £2.58 per patient per day but with Supply Direct this has been reduced to just £2.05 per patient per day.”
As part of its service, Supply Direct provides a storeman free of charge, computer equipment and utilises technology to help reduce staff costs. Damian Bell, managing director, Supply Direct, said: “The internet is changing the way business works, the catering industry is no exception to taking advantage of the opportunities it offers. We estimate that it costs the NHS £30-£40 to process each invoice they receive from food suppliers and normally they will be receiving 30-50 of these per week. With Supply Direct you receive only one invoice per week, making a huge saving. We are really pleased to be working with the Queen Elizabeth in helping to reduce their costs.”
Supply Direct offers an online system called Interchef that provides a One Stop Shop, incorporating menu planning, stock management, round the clock access and no purchasing costs for software. Interchef also provides a fixed price approach, and a time-saving single weekly invoice system. Supply Direct will provide food across four of the Trust’s sites, including Queen Elizabeth Hospital, St.James’s, Chatterton and North Cambs.
