Foster lands local government deal

UK: Foster Refrigerator has won a contract to supply refrigeration services to seven local authorities in the east and Midlands.

The contract will see the Kings-Lynn-based refrigeration manufacturer supplying commercial catering equipment and associated services to The Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO).

ESPO is part of the Pro5 group, a joint committee of local authorities’ buying associations with a combined purchasing power of over £2bn per annum. ESPO itself includes Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Warwickshire County Councils, along with Leicester and Peterborough City Councils.

Vim Hariani, public sector sales manager at Foster Refrigerator said: “Foster has been very involved with public sector bodies for over 30 years, and is one of the few commercial refrigeration manufacturers to feature on the Government procurement list.”

Part of Foster’s long term plan for their work in the public sector includes liaising with schools as they prepare for the additional demands which will come from the onset of Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) in September this year.

Hariani said:  “Foster has a lot of experience working with schools, colleges and other institutions to make sure they have long-lasting quality refrigeration for their catering needs.

Foster specialists around the country are working closely with head-teachers and catering managers to ensure they have the correct refrigeration in place to cope, including free site-surveys where accurate demand planning can be carried out. Hariani said: “We have calculated that one 600 litre fridge is needed per 100 school meals prepared each day – so extra meals will need additional extra cold-storage to cater for the increased demand.”