Multi Temperature Food Solutions – New Framework

This August sees our new Multi Temperature Food Solutions (MTFS) framework go live. After re-tendering the category earlier this year, the new framework will start on 11 August 2025 with an initial term of two years. Here is a ‘sneak peek’ into what’s new, highlighting the standout benefits and opportunities that MTFS could unlock for your trust.

Customers can now tap into a vibrant network of diverse suppliers through a fully compliant route to market. This brings a wide array of innovative products and tailored business solutions. We’re connecting you with both regional and national suppliers who are focused on driving value and choice, as well as working towards a greener supply chain.

The framework now features 27 suppliers, including 13 exciting new additions, giving customers more choice than ever before. The refreshed list includes a strong mix of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and regional suppliers for your trust’s individual needs and requirements. As well as the framework includes key national suppliers, including Bidfood and Brakes. Five of these suppliers are completely new to NHS Supply Chain: Food, thereby expanding our offer and additionally bringing more value to our customers and improving our contingency planning.

We are bringing benefits to trusts through an increased focus on regional suppliers, and supporting them by reducing the number of food miles the produce is travelling. We wanted to drive greater competition within the marketplace for trusts, and by having more suppliers awarded to the framework we’re now able to offer this. We have more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and regional suppliers on the new framework, who can usually offer greater flexibility of service; some can even offer same day or next day delivery.

We are looking at different savings methodologies and supplier discount matrixes – this work will happen within the duration of the framework. We hope this will drive further discounts into trusts, in that they may offer discounted prices specifically for NHS Supply Chain customers. We pass those discounts directly on to our customers. In addition, suppliers may offer rebates to trusts based on the volume and potential value of their orders, rewarding growth. If a trust achieves a specified spending threshold for a product or account they may receive a percentage rebate at the end of the year.

Charlotte Farrell, Category Development Buyer at NHS Supply Chain: Food

By splitting the framework into three categories (ambient, chilled and frozen) we were able to simplify the framework and make it accessible to specialist suppliers who don’t supply all three temperature bands. For suppliers who do supply across multiple temperature bands, the products are being sent directly from the supplier to the trust on one lorry, meaning fewer overall deliveries for you, thereby helping with carbon reduction.

Charlotte went on to say “This framework has been set up on an ‘award to all’ basis, meaning that if for example a supplier can only provide frozen food due to its capabilities, if at a later stage they become able to supply ambient or chilled, they can then do so without having to re-tender. This means with some suppliers they may later acquire or partner with a supplier in the other food categories and could lead to them winning even more business from NHS England trusts. This may benefit the SMEs who may start as a frozen food supplier for instance, then later venture into chilled food as their business grows. We hope to be able to provide these sorts of opportunities for SMEs, and by doing this we are showing our support to them.”

We are proving our enhanced commitment to sustainability and social value through this framework. When tendering for a place on the framework, suppliers were required to complete a social value questionnaire which accounted for a proportion of the overall evaluation. The evaluation included questions on tackling economic equality and fighting climate change, key elements in supporting the delivery of the NHS’s journey to net zero.

In addition to this, all suppliers were also required to provide some key information. These are important elements in how NHS Supply Chain build our framework offering through the procurement process, tendering, supplier award and contract management.

We are supporting compliance with relevant Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs) and NHS England policy:

• Carbon Reduction Plans (PPN 06/21).
• Evergreen Assessments.
• Modern Slavery Assessments (PPN 02/23).

Rina Smith, Category Lead for MTFS said “We have estimated the framework will drive savings of £2.3 million into trusts over the next 24 months.”

The benefits of using an MTFS wholesaler include that the deliveries arrive on one lorry. The main change that we wanted to achieve from the re-procurement of this framework was to increase the number of suppliers we’ve onboarded, and we have achieved that. This in turn offers trusts a greater product range. There are a huge number of regional SME suppliers in the market, and that’s where we’ve expanded our offer. We aim to support the growth of these SMEs. These suppliers can offer added value to the customer in terms of cost price, convenience, carbon reduction, and in product range. We wanted to be able to offer a range of large and small suppliers to the customer, giving trusts the choice. It’s about fulfilling bespoke choice and requirements for each trust, and we’ve got even more scope and choice across the supply base to be able to deliver that now. We really feel we’ve enhanced our offer to trusts across England.

Whilst the MTFS framework is a direct procurement solution, we still work really closely with our suppliers to coach them to develop the right practices, products and concepts to support the needs of the NHS. We monitor performance, and hold regular meetings with them to share knowledge, ideas and ensure the right projects are prioritised. This had lead to a number of new ways to add value to the NHS, for example reductions in product packaging, shrink wrap and free online training courses for catering staff.

We have reviewed the gaps in the previous framework and listened to trusts’ feedback, resulting in a more flexible, diverse supplier base that supports their individual requirements. We want to be supporting SMEs and regional suppliers more, and we’ve set the framework up so we can explore more savings methodologies. We feel we are best placed to unlock investment from the supplier base into the NHS.

In summary, the new MTFS framework has been designed to support key objectives for the NHS:

• Deliver choice and value for money across ranges and service requirements.
• Grow market share.
• Develop additional savings levers.
• Evaluate and keep social value standards.

See our Useful Links section for more information on the Multi Temperature Food Solutions framework agreement page.

Let’s work together to deliver smarter, more sustainable food solutions.