Food Service GPO

Foodservice businesses make purchasing decisions every day, from food and beverages to equipment, supplies and technology. A food service GPO helps businesses use their collective purchasing power to access supplier programs, pricing opportunities and rebates.

Groupex is a Canadian foodservice buying group with 300+ supplier partners and 35,000+ rebate-eligible products. Members can access supplier programs while continuing to purchase through their existing purchasing channels.

What Is a Food Service GPO?

A food service GPO, or Group Purchasing Organization, brings together the purchasing power of multiple foodservice businesses. The GPO uses this combined purchasing volume to negotiate supplier programs and purchasing opportunities for its members.

Foodservice businesses can join a GPO to access negotiated supplier programs and rebates without having to negotiate every purchasing opportunity independently.

A GPO is different from a food distributor. A distributor sells and delivers products to businesses, while a GPO negotiates programs with suppliers on behalf of its members.

Groupex operates as a foodservice buying group, connecting Canadian foodservice businesses with supplier programs across a wide range of products and services.

How Does a Food Service GPO Work?

A food service GPO combines the purchasing activity of its members and uses that collective volume when working with suppliers.

Businesses Join the Buying Group: Foodservice businesses become members of the GPO and gain access to the supplier programs available through the group.
Purchasing Power Is Combined: The GPO represents the combined purchasing activity of its members, giving suppliers access to a larger network of foodservice buyers.
Supplier Programs Are Negotiated: The GPO works with suppliers to establish programs that provide members with purchasing opportunities, pricing arrangements and rebates.
Members Continue Purchasing: Members continue ordering the products and services their businesses need through participating suppliers and their existing purchasing channels.
Members Receive the Benefits: Members receive the benefits provided through the applicable supplier programs, including rebates on eligible purchases.

How Does a Food Service GPO Make Money?

Food service GPOs are funded through their relationships with participating suppliers. Suppliers compensate the GPO for the purchasing volume and business generated through its member network.

Groupex is owned by Restaurants Canada, and 100% of its profits are reinvested into the Canadian foodservice industry.

Benefits of Joining a Foodservice Buying Group

A foodservice buying group gives businesses access to collective purchasing power and supplier programs designed around the needs of the foodservice industry.

Increase Your Purchasing Power

Independent restaurants and smaller foodservice businesses don’t always have the purchasing volume of a large chain. A buying group combines the purchasing activity of its members, giving businesses access to the collective purchasing power of the wider group.

Access Supplier Programs

Ingredient prices, supply chain conditions, and operating expenses can change frequently, making it challenging for operators to maintain predictable costs and protect margins.

Having access to purchasing programs and supplier partnerships can help businesses better manage these fluctuations.

Earn Rebates on Eligible Purchases

Groupex members earn rebates on eligible purchases made through participating supplier programs.

Rebate amounts and program terms vary by supplier, but the principle is simple: businesses can earn money back on purchases they are already making.

Access a Broad Supplier Network

Groupex works with 300+ supplier partners, with 35,000+ rebate-eligible products across its network.

This gives members access to purchasing programs covering many of the products and services foodservice businesses use every day.

Spend Less Time Negotiating

Negotiating with suppliers and researching purchasing opportunities takes time. Groupex handles supplier negotiations and develops purchasing programs on behalf of its members.

This gives businesses access to established programs without having to negotiate each opportunity independently.

Keep Your Existing Suppliers

Joining Groupex does not mean changing how you order. Members keep their existing distributors and product preferences and earn rebates on the purchases they are already making.

What Can You Purchase Through a Group Purchasing Organization?

Foodservice businesses purchase much more than food. A group purchasing organization can provide access to supplier programs across many areas of day-to-day operations.

Food & Beverage

Access supplier programs for food products, ingredients, beverages and other products used in foodservice operations.

Equipment & Smallwares

Foodservice businesses can access programs for commercial kitchen equipment, smallwares and other equipment used to operate their kitchens and dining spaces.

Cleaning & Operating Supplies

Purchasing programs can cover cleaning products, paper products, packaging and other supplies required to run a foodservice business.

Technology & Business Services

GPO programs can also extend beyond physical products to technology and business services that support restaurant and foodservice operations.

Who Can Benefit From a Buying Group?

Buying groups serve businesses of different sizes and types across the foodservice industry.

Independent Restaurants

Independent restaurants can access collective purchasing power without having the volume of a large restaurant chain.

Cafés & Coffee Shops

Cafés and coffee shops purchase food, beverages, equipment, supplies and other products regularly. A buying group can provide access to supplier programs across these purchasing categories.

Hotels & Hospitality Businesses

Hotels and hospitality businesses have purchasing needs across multiple areas of their operations. Supplier programs can provide purchasing opportunities across a range of categories.

Catering & Event Businesses

Catering companies and event businesses regularly purchase food, beverages, equipment and operating supplies. Access to supplier programs can help these businesses get more value from their ongoing purchasing.

Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators

Businesses operating multiple restaurants or foodservice locations can access supplier programs across their operations and use the collective purchasing power available through a buying group.

Food Service GPO vs. Buying Directly From Suppliers

Foodservice businesses can negotiate directly with suppliers, or they can join a buying group and access programs negotiated through collective purchasing power.

Buying Directly

Purchasing power is based on the individual business
Business negotiates independently
Business researches purchasing opportunities independently
Business manages supplier negotiations
Savings depend on individual supplier arrangements

Using a Buying Group

Purchasing power is combined across members
GPO negotiates supplier programs
Members access established supplier programs
GPO manages supplier relationships and negotiations
Members can earn rebates through participating programs

A buying group does not have to replace your existing purchasing process. It can provide access to supplier programs and rebates while working alongside the way your business already purchases.

What to Check Before You Join a Buying Group

Not every buying group operates in the same way. Before joining, look at the membership terms, purchasing requirements, supplier relationships, rebate structure and ownership model.

Are There Contracts?

Groupex membership has no contracts, giving businesses the flexibility to join without a long-term contractual commitment.

How Often Are Rebates Paid?

Groupex members receive a rebate cheque and detailed savings statement every month. Rebate amounts vary based on the applicable supplier programs and purchases.

Who Owns the Buying Group?

Groupex is owned by Restaurants Canada, and 100% of its profits are reinvested into the Canadian foodservice industry.

Why Choose Groupex?

Groupex is built specifically around the purchasing needs of Canada’s foodservice industry.

Canadian-Owned and Non-Profit-Backed

Groupex is owned by Restaurants Canada, the national association representing Canada’s foodservice industry. Its profits are reinvested into the Canadian foodservice industry.

No Contracts

Groupex membership comes with no contracts, giving foodservice businesses flexibility without a long-term contractual commitment.

One-on-One Key Account Consultant

Groupex members have access to a dedicated Key Account Consultant who can help them understand available supplier programs, review purchasing opportunities and make the most of their membership.

Why Operators Choose Groupex

Chef Paul Shufelt Robert

Spencer Hospitality, Alberta

Groupex really benefits small businesses. They go out and do a lot of hard work to make it affordable for the small guys to source products at prices comparable to larger organizations.

Frank LeBlanc

Sports Rock Pub & Steak House, New Brunswick

Our Groupex rep has been readily available to help whenever we require assistance in trying to save money or adding new programs. The monthly arrival of rebate cheques never fails to bring a smile to our faces.

Ian Poyntz

Barb’s, British Columbia

Groupex is good at pulling businesses together. You get better pricing, and rebate cheques

Nicole Kucy

Bite To Eat, Alberta

Groupex program is simple to use and has increased my business profits by providing credits for items I am already ordering. I enjoy getting that monthly cheque and seeing how my membership pays for itself multiple times over.

How to Join Groupex

Joining Groupex starts with understanding your current purchasing and identifying opportunities that could benefit your business.

Connect With a Groupex Consultant

Get in touch with Groupex to discuss your business, current purchasing and supplier relationships. A Key Account Consultant will help you understand how Groupex works and what membership could look like for your business.

Get a Free Cost Analysis

Groupex provides a free, fact-based cost analysis based on your purchasing. This helps identify potential opportunities across Groupex supplier programs.

Complete Your Membership Application

Once you've reviewed the opportunities available to your business, complete the Groupex membership application.

Access Groupex Programs

Once you become a member, access available supplier programs and begin earning rebates on eligible purchases.

FAQs

Is a food service GPO the same as a food distributor?

No. A food service GPO and a food distributor serve different purposes. A distributor sells and delivers products to businesses, while a GPO negotiates supplier programs on behalf of its members.

Groupex is a foodservice buying group, not a food distributor. It connects members with participating suppliers and purchasing programs.

Can small restaurants join a food service GPO?

Yes. Small and independent restaurants can join a food service GPO. A buying group combines the purchasing activity of multiple businesses, giving independent