Food and drink suppliers: Where to go for quality options

Over the years, here at QAST we have grown to know food and drink suppliers across every region in Queensland.

We’ve engaged many of them through our Smart Choices Nutrition Advisory Service and helped them to classify food and drinks they regularly supply to tuckshops against the Queensland Government’s Smart Choices Strategy.

Check out our complete directory of suppliers.

Making your menu as healthy as possible is important to helping children learn, listen and play.

Checking the food item against the Smart Choices strategy recommendations is essential to make sure food on offer is nutritious and promotes healthy eating behaviours.

The Smart Choices Strategy Ready Reckoner gives a good breakdown of products and categories to help point you in the right direction.

Do you work with a supplier that supplies healthy, nutritious food, but it’s not on in our supplier directory? Get in touch with Chris Ogden on (07) 3324 1511 or chris@qast.org.au.

Tuckshop Community Alert

Thank you to QAST members who recently contacted us about cost increases to everyday items from regular suppliers.

We investigated and found that suppliers under Qld Government SOAs have been approved to increase prices across some of their goods, limited to an increase of up to 20-25 per cent.

If this has happened to you, don’t forget to adjust calculations around item costs and profit margins. While these changes are small(ish), left unchecked, gradual increases over time to the base cost of items can impact on the profitability of an item and the tuckshop overall.

Thanks again to the QAST members for sharing. This is a great example of the tuckshop community checking in and sharing information to help others.

Not sure how to check the profit of each tuckshop menu item? Give us a call on (07) 3324 1511 to learn more about our Pathway to Profit Training course.

Queensland Government Soa

To help with cost savings, via long-term discounts on food and drink items, the Queensland Government has a Standing Offer Arrangement for Food and Tuckshop Supplies with a number of suppliers across Queensland.

State schools can find the information on OnePortal. These suppliers have direct engagement in the Queensland market and are familiar with Smart Choices. Non-state schools or those who do not have access to OnePortal, email: procurement.ggs@qed.qld.gov.au or telephone 1300 366 612 (select Option 4 for information and price lists).

BUYERS’ GUIDES – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

There are several food and drink buyers guides available for tuckshops – in addition to product guides from suppliers directly.

We’ve provided a summary of some of the buyers' guides currently available for tuckshops. Keep in mind that some suppliers pay for the privilege of being in these guides, and the products lists are not exhaustive.

Healthy Kids Association (HKA) (NSW)

Offers state-based buyer’s guide. Products (registered only) have been assessed against the Smart Choices Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy, as well as the Healthy Kids Nutrient Criteria.

HKA is a NSW-based organisation and not all products listed in the Guide are available in Queensland, and does not cover all products available in Queensland.

Star Choice Buyers Guide (WA)

The Guide is distributed to all schools in Western Australia and many community organisations.

Products listed are specific to Western Australia schools.

Keen to talk to someone about your tuckshop suppliers?

Give us a call on (07)3324 1511 or send us an email at enquiry@qast.org.au