Jerry Brand moves into e-procurement

The founder of Host Contract Management says his Caternet system is designed to operate either with or without a Host catering management service for all customers from contract or in-house caterers through to restaurateurs and hoteliers. "Put simply clients will be able to inspect their accounts – including purchase prices and revenues – though a secure website on the actual day a transaction takes place," saus Brand. "All suppliers will be connected to Caternet's central database through a secure web based site so that clients can identify best possible prices and see at a glance how competitive companies are being with their products." The software also supports cashless payments and electronic point-of-sale and includes management tools for budgeting and stock control. These in turn provide clients with first rate financial control over their catering department's expenditure against budgets. "One of the most exciting aspects of Caternet is that clients do not need to contract Host to manage their catering. "Those who are currently with other contractors can use the system if they feel that they need more control over purchasing policies. Indeed Host already has its first in-house customer in Sanctuary Care, the not-for-profit care home provider which has 49 sites across the UK. "Caternet will handle an estimated £1.3m of Sanctuary's net-priced purchasing in its first year, charging a percentage of turnover as commission." Caternet is a system which contract catering veteran Brand says he visualised back in the 1990s when he was managing director of Russell & Brand. "However at that time the technology was not available to create the real time management information that is so important in making this system unique." He adds that Caternet is still evolving as a system; Host is currently busy adding features such as e-deli for desk-top or remote ordering and Q-Cam, a queuing 'spy' camera that enables employees to see at a glance the best time to visit a restaurant. Says Brand: "The Caternet mission statement is to provide clients with financial control by giving them instant access to secure, real time performance data. "We aim to use our Caternet system to empower the client while transforming the way contracts are handled. Clients will be able to see what their catering really costs them on the day, not six weeks later when they cannot do anything about it. "Those who think that they are being ripped off by their contractor's purchasing policies and hidden discounts can move into Caternet's net pricing zone for reassurance that they are getting the best local or national produce at the best possible price."