One of the biggest misconceptions in procurement is that resilience costs more. In reality, resilience comes from visibility and the businesses best positioned to weather disruption typically know: Who their critical suppliers are Where they have supply risk Which contracts are due for renewal What they’re actually paying Whether current pricing remains competitive Many manufacturers […]
Food manufacturers are once again facing challenges they cannot directly control. Recent industry data suggests food manufacturing SMEs have seen average sales revenue fall by 37% in Q1, reflecting growing economic uncertainty and supply chain disruption. The Strait of Hormuz concerns are the latest reminder of how quickly global events can impact UK manufacturers. In […]
Unlocking 15% on raw materials often triggers retailer renegotiation. But what happens when you unlock 15% on indirects? EBITDA quietly improves! Indirect categories are: Off radar Operationally fragmented Data-poor Supplier-led Not often managed by procurement experts Which means pricing discipline is often weak. The opportunity isn’t usually dramatic, but its incremental….. and incremental across 10-20 […]
One of the most overlooked aspects of indirect spend control is demand. Most cost initiatives focus on: Negotiating better prices Consolidating suppliers Both are important but they tend to miss the fundamental question of “Do we need to be buying this at all?” In indirect spend, demand is often: Unchecked Habit-driven Lightly governed (if at […]
We worked with a food manufacturer who hadn’t reviewed their indirect spend categories in over a decade. Why? “Things work fine” “Switching feels like hassle” “No time to look into it” But when we ran the full audit: Numerous suppliers supplying same or similar products Prices were above market rates Data made meaningful analysis impossible […]
Before the recent geopolitical shocks in the Middle East, UK headline inflation was beginning to look like it was stabilising around 3%—a welcome sign after years of volatility. But the war-driven energy spikes have made that stability fragile. Beneath the headline numbers, cost pressures remain very real. According to ONS 2026: Food inflation still elevated […]
In today’s cost environment, indirect spend is finally getting the attention it deserves. At Pare, we’re seeing more and more food manufacturers with dedicated “Indirect” or “Goods not for Resale” procurement teams, which is fantastic! It finally feels like the drum banging is getting heard! And for many food manufacturers, it’s long overdue. Because unlike […]
On paper, that sounds simple. A strong procurement team, equipped with the right tools and expertise, keeps all costs under control, reviews suppliers, and ensures the business is always getting the best deal. But, in reality? Most organisations don’t have that luxury. Instead, spend is spread across multiple budget holders — often department heads or […]
▶️ How many procurement experts do you have in your business? 🥼The technical manager buying lab services 🦺The health & safety manager buying protective clothing & equipment 🛠The engineering manager responsible for the management of £5m of engineering spend 👨💼 The HR administrator buying office supplies….. Unfortunately, in our experience, many businesses rely on budget […]