​The Savings

​Because size does matter in the foodservice industry, GPOs leverage their numbers to provide members with a chance to compete on a level playing field with the likes of billion-dollar foodservice giants. But, it turns out GPOs have appeal far beyond just the savings they offer. Member companies say that GPO-negotiated agreements with manufacturers and distributors provide them with access to more brands, more flexibility, and more support in every facet of their business. Because of the reporting transparency of reputable GPOs, members say they know their costs up front and members realize regular audits to verify the accuracy of contracted pricing. That helps to uncover hidden savings by tracing every expense on every item in every step of their supply chain. In a world where margins are razor thin, that’s critically important.