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School Meals Contract

Reading Borough Council · Local authority

In brief

Reading Borough Council has announced plans to buy food and drink and catering work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.

The estimated value is £14,700,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 3 years, up to 7 years with extensions, starting 1 August 2028.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Competition

Usually high: a median of 7.5 bids per contract for this buyer (from 24 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

The objectives of this project are to have successfully procured a school meals service which meets the needs of governors, schools, pupils and their families by the deadline agreed with governors and schools. Funding for this contract is made up as follows: Paid Meals: Meal price collected from parents directly by contractor. Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM): schools are allocated £2.61 per pupil/per day and calculations are based on census day uptake. Schools are invoiced directly by the contractor. Pupil Premium Free School Meals (FSM): schools are allocated the meal price (currently £523.28 per pupil per annum), and calculations are based on census day uptake. Schools are invoiced directly by the contractor.

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
  3. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.

Timeline

  1. Pipeline notice · UK1, notice 093788-2026
  2. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 093791-2026

About the buyer

Reading Borough CouncilLast 12 months

Procurements

62

Awards

30
All tenders and awards from Reading Borough Council

Similar open tenders

All open food and drink tenders
  1. Supply of Food Service- (Multiple Lots)

    Anchor Hanover GroupNorth East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South WestFood and drink supplies

    Open14 days left3 lotsSuitable for SMEs

    £88.4mestimated

From notice 093788-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 5 October 2026, last updated 5 October 2026. We last checked for changes on 5 October 2026.