Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I know if entegra can be a benefit to my organization?
A: Entegra provides procurement management services to multi-unit clients in the hospitality industry (commercial and non-commercial). If you have questions regarding the benefits of entegra for your organization please contact us or call us toll-free at 1-866-ENTEGRA.
Q: My organization has member facilities located in 20 different states. Can entegra service all of these facilities?
A: As part of a procurement program supporting 10,000 client facilities in the United States with more than $4 billion in annual global purchases of food, facilities and engineering supplies, entegra is uniquely positioned to support multi-unit clients with facilities spread throughout the United States. In addition to distribution programs with large national suppliers, entegra has regional programs available throughout the United States for a variety of products and services that cannot be negotiated or managed on a national basis.
Q: I am concerned with the level of support I have received from my suppliers in the past. How will entegra make a difference in this area?
A: Most procurement programs rely on their suppliers to service the facilities participating in the program. While entegra has aligned with leading national and regional suppliers with extensive service-related capabilities, we also recognize that there may, at times, be conflicts between the goals of our client and those of our suppliers. For this reason, we assign an entegra Regional Account Manager to each client facility participating in the entegra program. The Regional Account Manager is responsible for implementing the entegra program at their assigned facilities, for resolving service-related issues as they arise, and for identifying cost-savings opportunities that are consistent with each company's or organization's procurement plan. This facility-level support, combined with the fact that entegra is typically among the largest customers each of our suppliers services, allows us to provide an unparalleled level of service for our clients.
Q: Why does entegra focus on brand-name products versus private label or lesser known product lines?
A: entegra focuses on brand name products that your operators and customers know, prefer and trust for four main reasons: (i) product consistency over time controlled by established product formulas, (ii) consumer preferences driven by product advertising and familiarity, (iii) lower overall costs as a result of significant volume commitments and (iv) the ability of our customers to earn a higher margin on their sales by serving brand name products. We work closely with our manufacturer partners to understand emerging trends in each product category, to develop marketing resources and resources to promote increased sales and to ensure the ongoing safety of the products you serve to your customers. While our clients have access to a broad range of products, including private label or lesser known product lines, they typically choose entegra's manufacturer programs more than 90% of the time.
Q: How can you assist me in understanding where I can save money?
A: Entegra's proprietary technology allows us to tell you everything you need to know about your facilities' purchasing trends. We capture purchasing history at the facility level with line item detail, which allows us to analyze current purchasing patterns to identify and communicate cost-saving recommendations. As a customer, you will have regular opportunity assessments completed by your Regional Account Manager. Each assessment will identify opportunities for you to pursue.
Q: Do you partner with Minority/Women Owned Business Enterprises?
A: Yes, entegra encourages diversity in our workplace and we also support it in our vendor partners. We have over 29 MWBE partners on a national basis and 44 MWBE partners on a regional.
