Boost your business performance

Boost your business performance How GPOs help improve operational efficiency and customer experience 1

What is a GPO, and how can it impact your operational efficiency?

Many businesses are turning to group purchasing organisations — or GPOs — to save money on products.

By leveraging buyers’ collective purchasing power, GPOs allow those businesses to get better prices than if they made the same purchases alone. In other words: More buyers mean lower costs.

However, that’s only scratching the surface of what GPOs can do.

Today’s GPOs offer industry expertise and digital tools to help businesses improve their performance and guest experience.

With the right procurement partner, you gain the support to tackle tough operational challenges — and unlock new potential for your business.

Delight your customers with employees properly trained in hospitality strategies.

Serve orders faster — and reduce food waste — with menus optimised for efficiency.

Some GPOs even provide software that automates your purchasing, highlighting new opportunities to save. And that’s only the beginning.

It’s time to rethink how your business can save money and perform efficiently. Follow this guide to find the right procurement partner — and take your operations to the next level.

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Solutions for improving customer experience Keeping customers satisfied is the heart of your business.

That’s why some of today’s procurement partners offer solutions to ensure seamless, memorable experiences that keep customers returning, again and again.

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Solutions for improving customer experience

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Upgrade your employee training and development Your employees are the first points of contact for your business. Not only do they represent your brand, but a well-trained team can elevate the overall customer experience by enabling smooth, efficient operations.

Faster table turnovers. More consistent cleaning. Better-timed product orders.

Proper food preparation. All these factors add up to shape a customer’s perception of your business.

That’s where a GPO can help. Find a procurement partner who can provide training services in areas like customer service, food and equipment, business best practices and technology training.

With a well-trained team running the show, you can ensure customers see your business at its best.

What Entegra delivers Our operations team is comprised of skilled culinarians who can help your business develop its staff, elevating the quality of your service, and ensuring your business is able to meet regulatory requirements.

Entegra works with clients to develop their kitchen staff through apprenticeships and a range of training offered through our supplier network in areas like allergens and sanitation.

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Solutions for improving customer experience

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Serve customers faster by simplifying your menu Fed customers are happy customers. The key to faster service? Menus that emphasise simplicity — without sacrificing flavour.

By focusing on dishes that can be prepared quickly and efficiently, you can reduce kitchen bottlenecks, quicken service and minimise inventory management — all while increasing profitability.

However, be careful not to overextend this approach. Even the fastest service can’t compensate for unappetising or low-quality foods.

That’s why it’s important to work with a GPO who knows what customers want — and how to design a menu that strikes a balance between quickness and quality.

Look for a procurement partner with an in-house chef or test kitchen where you can make your menu shine.

What Entegra delivers Entegra works with our clients to engineer simplified menus that delight customers and boost margins, all while being tailored to their teams capacity.

After an analysis of the existing menu, our team trims the fat, cutting unprofitable items and optimising high potential dishes that have always been popular but never highly profitable.

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Solutions for improving customer experience

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Guide your strategy using real customer feedback For the most honest input on what improves customer experience, go straight to the source.

Regularly soliciting and analysing customer feedback can make a night-and-day difference on how you adjust your menus, services and operations.

The key is to be proactive. Consider building customer email lists and sending incentivised surveys one to four times per year. Also look for point-of-sale (POS) systems that incorporate survey QR codes onto receipts, allowing customers to give feedback on their own time.

On the back end of your operations, meet regularly with senior-level teams to discuss how to implement this feedback. For instance, if customers are highlighting a recurring issue, it’s important to address it quickly to show you’re listening.

Depending on your specific industry, GPOs can provide guidance for collecting and using customer feedback. Lean on their expertise to keep ideas incoming — and your operations thriving.

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Solutions for improving customer experience

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Maintain a consistent supply of popular menu items Consistent offerings drive customer loyalty. But with volatile markets and supply chains, businesses across the country are struggling to get ingredients for popular dishes at prices that fit their budgets.

Stay ahead of possible shortages by keeping track of global markets and supplies.

Create backup plans so you can quickly change course when necessary.

By connecting with a solid supply chain today, you can avoid future menu changes, price increases and costly retraining — not to mention dissatisfied customers.

That’s where GPOs shine. The right partner will leverage its purchasing power and supplier relationships to negotiate pricing on your behalf, getting you access and cost savings on the items your customers crave.

What Entegra delivers We save you time by handling the vetting, sourcing and negotiation of customer favourites.

Use our digital tools to create locked order guides, ensuring all your locations use the same products.

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Solutions for driving operational efficiency When it comes to your business operations, every advantage counts.

On top of helping to save on your purchases, the right GPO can also help you look at the bigger picture — providing tools and advisory support to take business to the next level.

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Solutions for driving operational efficiency

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Use the latest technology to streamline operations Eliminate unnecessary processes, develop new training programmes and optimise the way you use labour and resources — saving time and money at every step.

Today’s powerful digital tools are making it easier to streamline your business workflows and find new insights. With the right GPO, you can easily sort through the market’s dizzying selection of options to find the best tools for your organisation.

For instance, consider modern POS systems that provide insights into your menus, turnaround times and inventory. Some procurement partners provide advanced reporting on your spending, as well as broader industry trends.

Also keep an eye out for the rise of AI integrations. These developing technologies will help predict customer trends, inventory issues and other opportunities to improve your operations.

What Entegra delivers Entegra's Beagle platform delivers actionable insights by analysing spending patterns, identifying cost drivers and benchmarking performance against industry peers.

We also offer the latest in data and digital tools for reducing administration, providing compliance through effective reporting, and improving procurement decisions.

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Solutions for driving operational efficiency

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Reduce waste with smarter menuing and preparation Whether it’s the result of inefficient food preparation or improper portion sizes, food waste creates lasting issues for the environment — and your bottom line.

Plan ahead by implementing waste reduction strategies. Closely track your inventory to avoid overordering. Use the first in, first out (FIFO) method to use older inventory first, and monitor portion control to ensure you’re not overserving customers.

The right GPO can even analyse your kitchen processes to identify underperforming side dishes and optimise your team’s food preparation techniques.

The result: Less food in the landfill, and greater results for your business.

What Entegra delivers Entegra’s new WasteSmart service is a strategic solution designed to tackle food waste head-on and align seamlessly with our clients' sustainability goals.

This proactive initiative dives deep into the root causes of food waste within your operations, offering bespoke strategies to reduce waste, unlock savings, and ultimately reduce your CO2 emissions.

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Solutions for driving operational efficiency

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Reduce preparation time with improved kitchen layouts The French concept of “mise en place” — putting cooking items in the right place — can make or break a kitchen’s output.

Factor in heavy traffic and mealtime rushes, and a poorly designed kitchen can quickly impact your business’s bottom line.

Consider reconfiguring your kitchen’s layout with the goal of increasing efficiency and reducing preparation time. Ensure the kitchen is designed for easy movement. Place equipment where workers can quickly flow from station to station.

The right procurement partner can provide hands-on expertise for how to configure your kitchen. Some GPOs also partner with kitchen machinery suppliers to ensure you have the latest, most efficient models.

What Entegra delivers We have a broad range of suppliers who can equip your business with the fixtures and equipment it needs to run efficiently.

Our operations team have the expertise to consult on how you can best layout your space.

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Solutions for driving operational efficiency

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Save thousands of pounds with smarter energy management Kitchen appliances. Lights. Air conditioning. To keep up with customers’ needs, hospitality-driven companies use — and pay for — a staggering amount of energy.

But with a considered approach to energy management, it’s not uncommon for businesses to save thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly.

Manage your energy usage more efficiently by partnering with a GPO who provides solutions like energy audits, lighting upgrades and renewable resource partnerships.

It’s a proactive, impactful way to protect your bottom line — and the environment.

What Entegra delivers Entegra offers energy procurement for clients, assisting them in purchasing electricity and natural gas.

From one-time or ongoing services to self-performing modules and rebates and incentives, Entegra can help in addressing all your energy and management needs.

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Meet the performance-focused procurement partner At Entegra, improving operational efficiency isn’t just part of what we do — it’s our main focus.

As the world’s largest food group purchasing organisation, we provide the solutions, technology and advisory support to let your business shine.

Start the conversation Our Entegra Advisors are standing by to provide guidance specific to your operations. Let’s discuss how we can reach your efficiency goals: Contact us

Entegra Europe

Entegra Europe

Entegra Europe

1 Southhampton Row | London, WC1B 5HA | EntegraPS.uk

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