| answer text |
<p>The Crown Commercial Service, on behalf of the Cabinet Office, continues to work
alongside the national food industry, including the Federation of Wholesale Distributors,
to make sure that suppliers’ concerns are being factored into the development of the
agreement.</p><p>We regularly engage with colleagues from the devolved nations, including
customers and suppliers across Wales, on their commercial requirements and how we
can support them.</p><p>SMEs and wholesalers are crucial to the food supply chain
and have been consulted as part of supplier engagement. These stakeholders have been
from across the whole of the UK. The UK Government always seeks to work constructively
with devolved administrations, including the Welsh Government, and feedback from this
process shaped the procurement strategy for the framework agreement.</p><p>The UK
Government has made important changes to ensure SME producers across the country will
have increased opportunities to work with the public sector. Furthermore, customers
will be able to request nominated local products (subject to the local supplier/producer
meeting the minimum technical standards). These products would be consolidated into
a single delivery with their food order.</p><p>Lastly, this will be the first procurement
for CCS in the food market, which will actually bring additional choice to public
sector food buyers.</p><p> </p>
|
|
