Aramark Earns Dual National Honors for Championing Small Businesses and Inclusive Sourcing

Key Takeaways:

Aramark earned two national awards:
- Supplier.io Small Business Impact Champion for commitment to small businesses and driving community economic growth.
- NMSDC Corporation of the Year for inclusive sourcing practices.
Inclusive Sourcing is a business imperative for Aramark + Avendra International, which provides value to our clients and customers, and creates a robust and resilient supply chain.
In 2025, Aramark + Avendra International directed over $1.5 billion of spend to contracted suppliers identified as small and inclusive-owned.
Avendra for Good is a comprehensive program suite that promotes supply chain resilience through sustainability and supplier inclusion, offering initiatives such as supplier recognition, sustainability product tagging, EcoVadis assessments, mentorship programs, and AI-powered sourcing transparency.

Avendra International’s parent company, Aramark, has been recognized with two prestigious national awards for its commitment to building stronger communities through inclusive sourcing and sustainable procurement.

By expanding opportunities for small and underrepresented businesses and advancing responsible practices for operators and clients, Aramark + Avendra International are creating measurable impact, generating more than $1.5 billion in spend through partnerships with small and underrepresented suppliers.

Supplier.io Names Aramark a Small Business Impact Champion

Supplier.io recognized Aramark for its significant contributions to job creation, wages, and community growth through procurement spend with small businesses across the U.S.

This designation, featured in Supplier.io’s Small Business Impact Report, underscores how sourcing with small businesses creates powerful ripple effects:

$122 billion in spend
828,000+ jobs supported
$66.3 billion in income generated nationwide

Aramark + Avendra International are proud to be among the organizations driving this impact and remain committed to doing more.

NMSDC Honors Aramark as Corporation of the Year for Inclusive Sourcing Practices

The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) named Aramark the 2025 Corporation of the Year in Revenue Band 2, placing the company among an elite group of past honorees, including Toyota, Disney, Macy’s, and Hilton. This award celebrates Aramark’s leadership in fostering relationships with underserved businesses, supporting growth, innovation, and community vitality.

“Inclusive Sourcing is not only a key supply chain initiative for Aramark. It is a business imperative that delivers successful outcomes for the clients, consumers, and communities we serve.”

Natily Santos, Vice President of Responsible Sourcing, Aramark + Avendra International

Making Responsible Sourcing a Reality

Under the Avendra for Good program umbrella, Aramark + Avendra International Global Supply Chain and Procurement have launched initiatives that advance sustainability and inclusion across the supply chain:

Client Support – Provides clients with supply chain analysis, measures of impact, and a data-backed strategy to improve continuously.

Supplier Recognition Program – Highlights inclusive-owned suppliers participating in the EcoVadis sustainability assessment program. To date, seven suppliers have been featured.

Product Tagging Initiative – Developed with US Foods, this program identifies products with sustainability attributes on their e-procurement platform, helping clients easily access products that meet their sourcing goals.

EcoVadis Expansion – Continue to add suppliers across our global supply chain to the sustainability ratings program, providing tools and recommendations to strengthen environmental, labor, ethics, and procurement practices.

Supplier Development Programs – Aramark + Avendra International support a variety of organizations that foster the growth and development of local, small, and inclusive-owned businesses.

Enhanced Reporting – Leveraging the Metadata acquisition supported the development of AI-driven dynamic dashboards that provide actionable insights and measure progress to enhance sourcing transparency, integrated with Mosaic, Aramark + Avendra International’s AI-powered procurement platform.

Driving Impact Through Purposeful Partnerships

These initiatives reflect Aramark + Avendra International’s shared vision: to create a supply chain that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. By combining innovation with intentional partnerships, these initiatives continue to empower small businesses, strengthen communities, and deliver value to our clients.

“The Small Business Impact Champion and Corporation of the Year for Inclusive Sourcing Practices awards reflect our mission to leverage the power of supply chain to serve communities with purpose and partnership,” said Santos. “We’re honored to be recognized and remain committed to creating opportunities that make a lasting difference.”

Learn more about how Aramark + Avendra International are shaping the future of responsible sourcing and join us in building a more inclusive and sustainable supply chain.

We get it, and we can help.

ARAMARK EARNS DUAL NATIONAL HONORS FOR CHAMPIONING SMALL BUSINESSES AND INCLUSIVE SOURCING

FAQs

What awards did Aramark recently win for its inclusive sourcing?

Aramark was named Small Business Impact Champion by Supplier.io and Corporation of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).

Why were these awards given to Aramark?

They recognize Aramark’s leadership in inclusive sourcing, sustainable procurement, and partnerships that create economic opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses.

How much did Aramark + Avendra International spend with inclusive-owned suppliers in 2025?

In 2025, Aramark + Avendra International directed over $1.5 billion of client spend to contracted suppliers identified as inclusive-owned small and underrepresented suppliers.

What is Avendra for Good?

Avendra for Good is a suite of programs focused on building a robust and resilient supply chain through sustainability and supplier inclusion, including supplier recognition, product tagging for sustainability, EcoVadis assessments, mentorship programs, and AI-driven sourcing transparency.

How does Aramark + Avendra International support small and underrepresented suppliers?

Through initiatives like the Level UP!™ mentorship program, expanded EcoVadis participation, and technology solutions like MaetaData and Mosaic enhanced data and reporting methodology, Aramark + Avendra International helps small and underrepresented suppliers gain broader access to our networks, build capacity, scale and succeed.

Why is inclusive sourcing important to Aramark + Avendra International?

Inclusive sourcing strengthens communities, drives innovation, and ensures a resilient supply chain that benefits clients and consumers.