White Oaks has launched Catering Procurement Plus, a procurement service that demonstrates how digital systems, supplier networks, and sector expertise can support in-house catering teams within the senior living sector.
Catering procurement combines nutrition, compliance, cost control, and resident satisfaction. Many providers find balancing these elements challenging, especially as dietary needs become more complex and budgets shrink. White Oaks, the senior living division of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has introduced Catering Procurement Plus, a specialised service designed to support these issues.
The service integrates procurement expertise, industry insights, and a robust infrastructure, along with a deep understanding of how catering teams operate in this sector across the UK. Its goal is to offer a more structured and manageable way for providers to handle food service procurement while maintaining in-house catering.
Catering Procurement Plus consists of three key components. First is digital technology: an easy-to-use food service procurement platform that supports menu planning, ordering, and stock control to minimise manual work which takes up cooking time. It also features tools for dietary management, providing instant access to nutritional and allergen data to help teams plan and adjust menus to residents’ needs.
The second component is ingredient sourcing. The service connects to a network of local, regional, and national suppliers offering responsibly sourced, high-quality ingredients. Collective buying power secures competitive prices and supports consistency and cost control without limiting menu options or impacting quality
The third element is professional support from White Oaks subject experts. Award-winning chefs, dietitians, and operational managers collaborate with catering teams, providing advice on menu development, nutritional compliance, and cost management. This support complements existing roles, helping teams address operational challenges without replacing their expertise.
Laura Tighe, Business Director at White Oaks, describes the service as a way to give catering teams more confidence in managing quality, compliance, and budgets simultaneously. She states that it enables teams to leverage specialist knowledge, allowing them to focus on delivering enjoyable meals for residents.
Overall, the launch exemplifies White Oaks’ approach to food and service across the sector, with their teams creating catering options tailored to residents’ specific needs, emphasising quality, choice, and flexibility.
To deliver this, White Oaks is working in partnership with EF-group, the leading procurement and menu management partner to the care and senior living sector.
