You’ve been thoughtful and purposeful in ensuring an inclusive environment for your employees and guests. Avendra makes it easy for you to continue that commitment throughout your property through our commitment to supplier diversity.

Supplier diversity creates value, opportunity, and economic impact. We are proud to partner with a broad network of small organizations and businesses owned and operated by minorities, women, and other diverse populations.

Avendra has a centralized, enterprise-wide program to identify potential diverse and small suppliers. We actively recruit diverse businesses, educate our employees on contracting goals, and provide a database of registered and certified diverse and small businesses to our clients.

What does it mean to be “diversity certified” and is that different from being self-classified as diverse?
“Supplier diversity certification occurs through a third-party certification agency. The process involves documentation, screening, interviews, and on-site visits to confirm that the business is, indeed, diverse.” Mercedes Rodriguez, Supplier Diversity Manager, Responsible Sourcing Group for Avendra, explained.

“Since the merging of Aramark’s and Avendra’s Supplier Diversity Programs in 2021, Avendra suppliers, clients, and customers have benefited from Aramark’s robust program offerings such as mentoring and certification assistance,” Mercedes said.

The certification program is designed to enhance supplier diversity opportunities by assisting and supporting self-classified diverse suppliers to obtain third-party certification with one of the top 4 NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations): Disability.IN, NGLCC, NMSDC, and WBENC.

When a supplier self-classifies as diverse, they are claiming the business is at least 51% owned, managed, and operated by an individual of a diverse background. The supplier is required by Avendra to sign and date paperwork certifying the information provided is true and correct.

Diverse suppliers are required to report any changes in ownership that occur within the certification period and renew certification / self-classification on a yearly basis.

Other FAQs:

How does Avendra ensure that Tier 2 suppliers within our supply chain maintain diversity standards, and what measures are in place to address any shortcomings in diversity representation?

Avendra meticulously monitors Tier 2 suppliers through regular audits and utilizes a web-based portal for suppliers to report quarterly on indirect diverse spend. This comprehensive approach ensures transparency and accountability throughout the entire supply chain.

What specific mentorship and capacity-building initiatives does Avendra offer to support the growth and development of diverse suppliers, and how do these programs contribute to fostering a more inclusive business environment?

Avendra, in collaboration with Aramark, offers mentorship programs aimed at empowering Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBE) to scale their businesses. These initiatives provide resources such as certification assistance, coaching, and participation in national conferences, enabling diverse suppliers to thrive within the industry.

In what ways does Avendra incorporate diversity considerations into its procurement strategies beyond supplier selection, and how does this commitment to diversity translate into tangible benefits for clients in terms of cost savings and operational efficiency?

Avendra leverages its procurement expertise and purchasing data to optimize supply chain solutions while ensuring that all suppliers meet rigorous diversity standards. This approach not only fosters a more inclusive business environment but also generates cost savings and operational efficiencies for clients, enhancing overall business performance.

Is my supply chain fully diversified?
Tier 2 suppliers are your supplier’s diverse suppliers. While they are indirectly connected to your property, they are part of your supply chain. Trust Avendra to track the entire supply chain for you and ensure you’re spend is truly diverse.

Common purchase categories in the hospitality industry include Food & Beverage, Room Operations, Engineering, Administrative, Cleaning Chemicals & Sanitizing Systems, Spa Equipment & Supplies, Golf Pro Shop, Grounds & Agronomy, Gift Shop/Retail and FF&E Services.

Where do the suppliers of these goods and services get their supplies? How can I be sure you’re truly helping me support an inclusive environment on my property by monitoring my entire supply chain?

Avendra is rooted in supply and procurement expertise, Avendra makes intelligent use of operational scale, purchasing data, and leveraged buying power to optimize the supply chain solutions that drive suppliers and customers forward. All suppliers meet Avendra’s strict QA, insurance, and indemnity requirements giving you additional peace of mind, along with savings.

Avendra’s business intelligence tools and core systems monitor and track spend on your entire supply chain. Additionally, Avendra uses a web-based portal for suppliers to provide quarterly updates on Tier 2 indirect diverse spend. Avendra uses this information to incorporate it into your overall spend analysis to provide you with insights into the diversity of your supply chain.

How does Avendra support diverse suppliers?
In conjunction with our parent company, Aramark, our mentorship programs are designed to help Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBE) scale their businesses and build capacity for growth. These mentorship programs are open to suppliers in our current supply chain, as well as those seeking to work with Avendra in the future.

“Through these amazing opportunities and resources, Avendra has supported diverse suppliers in mentoring and coaching, certification assistance, national conferences, and matchmaker events where we meet diverse suppliers to include in RFPs and competition initiatives,” Mercedes shared. “In the last two years, we have supported the certification of eight Avendra diverse suppliers.”

Avendra has partnerships with thousands of small and diverse suppliers. Ask your Avendra sourcing specialist about ensuring the diversity of your supply chain. Diversity is important to you and it’s important to us. We get it and we can help.