Q&A with Entegra SVP Client Services and Chief Customer Officer Jeff Porterfield 

If you’re just using your GPO to buy F&B, FF&E or MRO, you may be leaving money on the table. That’s right. While purchasing is part of the name with a group purchasing organizations (GPO), the best ones offer savings way beyond off-invoice pricing for any hospitality-driven business, including restaurants, hotels, senior living communities and golf and leisure businesses and others. 

What does this mean for your business? Entegra’s SVP Client Services and Chief Customer Officer Jeff Porterfield weighs in. 

How can a GPO help businesses go beyond basic off-invoice discounts to find additional cost-saving opportunities in their food, beverage, and FF&E (furniture, fixtures, and equipment) spending? 

“GPOs do much more than secure upfront price reductions, though they do that very well. The real value often lies in the additional savings we can help uncover. Analyzing purchasing data and redoing menus to appeal to new customers, while cutting costs, are just two examples. Beyond finding additional savings, we also support specific client mandates, like developing dishes that meet the nutritional needs of seniors. 

“Entegra has an extended team that is dedicated to uncovering and developing potential savings opportunities that can meet the needs of our customers and their short- and long-term growth plans.” 

Can you share how group purchasing organizations (GPOs) leverage supplier relationships and collective purchasing power to help businesses achieve greater price stability and improved operational efficiency? 

“GPOs use their scale and supplier partnerships to deliver both financial and operational advantages. 

Our purchasing power means we can negotiate contracts that can shield members from market volatility in categories like food, beverage, and key operating supplies. This helps businesses better forecast budgets and manage margins, even when commodity prices fluctuate. 

“As a global leader, Entegra is well-positioned to go beyond traditional GPO services. We become our clients’ business performance improvement company. We assist clients in saving money, working smarter and delivering better experiences for the people they serve.” 

In what ways does partnering with a GPO accelerate business growth? 

“Using a GPO can help companies achieve operational efficiencies they might not be able to achieve on their own. GPOs streamline procurement by offering centralized contracts, e-procurement platforms, and simplified supplier management. This reduces administrative workload, improves compliance by having teams buy from the money-saving, Entegra-negotiated contracts , and frees up staff time for other important strategic initiatives. 

“For example, Entegra’s investment in state of the art digital and data tools as well as Entegra Culinary Consulting (ECC) services help boost efficiencies, improve margins by driving costs down and elevate the guest experience overall.” 

What are you most excited about for the future of Entegra and/or how we will continue to innovate and serve hospitality-driven businesses? 

“I'm excited about helping our clients turn from defense to offense in their everyday operations and long-term strategies. With the challenging times we have today in supply chain, the cost of goods and labor, Entegra's support extends well beyond great pricing. Leveraging our significant investments in data and culinary, our operational expertise helps clients overcome many of their marketplace challenges.” 

Are you ready to drive value beyond purchasing—all while saving on nearly everything you need for your business? Contact an Entegra rep today!