Which meal and snack suppliers does a senior day program usually depend on?

Begin with the supply picture. Ask whether meals are prepared on site, brought in or both, and who buys groceries, snacks and special dietary items. Request recent invoices and any contracts. Find out whether pricing can change on short notice and whether the arrangement continues for a new owner.

Then ask about safety and diets. Participants may have allergies, swallowing difficulties or medical diets. Ask how the kitchen or caterer records these, who checks each tray and how mistakes are reported. If food is prepared on site, ask to see cleaning and temperature records. Your lawyer can tell you which food rules apply.

Finally, ask what happens if a supplier fails. Is there a second source, a stock of shelf-stable items or an agreed fallback menu? Look at food costs compared with what participants and funders pay. A supplier relationship held only in the owner’s head, or sitting on a handshake, should be written down before a buyer relies on it. Ask the manager whether participants like the food. Complaints, wasted meals and requests for changes give a practical view of how well the supplier meets the needs of the people who are served.

Key takeaways

• List every food supplier with what it provides, the terms and how long it has served.
• Ask how allergies and medical diets are recorded and checked at each meal.
• Find out the backup plan if a supplier cannot deliver.