Avendra
Avendra International is a global Group Purchasing Organization serving hospitality, healthcare, and education clients across 14+ countries, negotiating supplier agreements and operating the Pi e-procurement platform on a supplier take-rate revenue model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersRockville, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Avendra does
Avendra International is a global Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) that negotiates and manages procurement contracts on behalf of buyers in the hospitality, healthcare, and education sectors. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, the company has operated for approximately 25 years and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aramark following the 2017 acquisition. Avendra earns revenue primarily through supplier membership fees structured as a percentage of overall member spend, with no fees charged to members to join; this take-rate model aligns Avendra's incentives with member procurement volume.
The company's core technology is the Pi e-procurement platform, a cloud-based system that handles supplier portal integration, order management, contract tracking, and real-time pricing updates. It is augmented by two notable modules: Piranha, a multilingual menu and allergen management tool available in six languages, and Pi Stock Management for automated inventory tracking. The technology stack is managed by a dedicated Lead Product & Release Manager team and is being rolled out across the UK, Ireland, and Continental Europe.
Avendra serves over 80,000 clients globally with a network of 2,500+ supplier agreements and approximately $20.5 billion in aggregated procurement spend. Operations span 14+ countries across the Americas (US, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Dominican Republic, Jamaica) and Europe (UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal). The company has pursued geographic expansion primarily through acquisitions of regional GPOs, including Trinity Purchasing (2023), Quantum (2024), Pelican Procurement Services, Expert Cost Control, and First Choice Purchasing. Distribution is direct-sales-led, with country-specific relationship and client managers delivering tailored procurement solutions, supported by content marketing, industry events, and a sustainability-focused ecosystem including founding membership in the Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement (HARP).
Avendra firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Avendra
- Legal name
- Avendra International
- Website
- https://avendra.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Avendra International is a global Group Purchasing Organization serving hospitality, healthcare, and education clients across 14+ countries, negotiating supplier agreements and operating the Pi e-procurement platform on a supplier take-rate revenue model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Avendra industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Group Purchasing Organization (Procurement Services)
- NAICS
- Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (425120)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Procurement & Strategic Sourcing (BPAHAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Catalog & eProcurement Enablement (Punchout, Item Master) (BPAAAJAI), Compliance, Risk & Supplier Due Diligence (KYC/ESG/Sanctions) (BPAAAJAK)
Keywords
Where Avendra is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rockville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Avendra business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Supplier Membership Fees: Avendra International earns revenue by charging suppliers a percentage of the overall spend generated through their procurement network. As more customers join and spend increases, the company's leverage with suppliers grows, resulting in stronger contracts and increased revenue. There are no fees to join for members.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | No joining fees for members |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Avendra product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Avendra International is a global Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) that negotiates supplier contracts on behalf of hospitality, healthcare, and education clients, aggregating $20.5 billion in purchasing power across 2,500+ supplier agreements. It delivers these procurement services through dedicated regional relationship managers and the proprietary Pi cloud-based e-procurement platform, complemented by specialized modules such as Piranha (menu/allergen management) and Pi Stock Management.
Product overview
Avendra International operates as a global procurement and supply chain organization offering a unified platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering is the Pi eProcurement System, an electronic procurement platform that serves as the central hub for procurement operations. This platform is augmented by specialized modules including Piranha for menu and allergen management and Pi Stock Management for inventory control. Together, these products enable hospitality operators to optimize procurement workflows, manage supplier relationships, track costs, and maintain compliance with allergen regulations across multiple regions and languages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pi: E-procurement system developed by Avendra International for electronic procurement and supply chain management.
- Piranha
Products and services
- Pi eProcurement System Cloud-based electronic procurement platform that centralizes purchasing, supplier management, contract administration, and real-time pricing data for hospitality, healthcare, and education clients. Deployed across UK, Ireland, and Continental Europe with supplier portal integration and order management.
- Piranha Menu and Allergen Management Tool Online all-in-one tool integrated with the Pi procurement system that consolidates recipe management, dynamic category organization, live supplier pricing updates, and accurate allergen/nutritional data. Available in six languages for catering teams across multiple regions.
- Pi Stock Management Online inventory management module that automates stock tracking and reorder management for operators, eliminating manual stock management challenges.
- Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) Services Core procurement service that negotiates supplier contracts and aggregates purchasing power across food, non-food, FF&E, energy, telecommunications, housekeeping, and services categories for hospitality, healthcare, and education organizations.
- Strategic Procurement Consulting Price analysis and strategic advisory services delivered by relationship managers and category specialists to help clients identify savings opportunities, optimize profitability, and improve operational efficiency.
- Sustainable Procurement Solutions Responsible sourcing solutions supported by the HARP alliance and EcoVadis scorecards, providing standardized supplier sustainability assessments and supporting members' ESG objectives.
- Culinary Assistance and Menu Development Culinary advisory service led by the Head of Culinary offering menu development, food trend insights, and practical guidance for hospitality and care home food service operations.
- FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) Assistance Advisory and procurement support for FF&E categories including flooring, signage, and furniture, helping hospitality clients select durable, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5-15% average cost savings for clients
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Avendra
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Avendra technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Avendra partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement (HARP)coreAvendra is a founding member of HARP, launched in Q1 2023 alongside major hotel groups (Accor, Hilton, IHG, Marriott, Radisson, Entegra) to establish unified sustainability assessments across the hospitality supply chain using EcoVadis scorecards. The alliance focuses on improving supplier sustainability performance through shared assessments, collaborative engagement, and reduced duplication.
- QuantumcoreAvendra International acquired Quantum, a Spanish-based Group Purchasing Organization with $500 million in procurement spend, 90 employees, and 27 years of expertise. Operations span Spain, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Zanzibar, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. The acquisition enhances global purchasing power to over $20.5 billion and expands hotel room, engineering products and services capabilities.
- Trinity PurchasingcoreTrinity Purchasing has officially joined Avendra International as part of the European expansion. The integration brings additional procurement expertise and client relationships to the Avendra network, with plans to use Avendra International's branding to reflect unified global presence.
- Pelican Procurement ServicescorePart of Avendra International's European expansion integrating specialized procurement companies. Pelican brings UK procurement expertise to the combined network.
- Expert Cost ControlcorePart of Avendra International's European expansion. Expert Cost Control's knowledge and client base integrated into the unified Avendra International network.
- First Choice PurchasingcorePart of Avendra International's European expansion bringing additional procurement capabilities to the European network.
- Antwerp Hotel Association (AHA)minorAvendra International partners with the Antwerp Hotel Association, which serves as the primary liaison for Antwerp hotels representing nearly all hotels in the city. The partnership allows Avendra to stay informed and responsive to the hotel industry's evolving needs while offering expertise and innovative solutions across the industry.
- BWG FoodserviceminorSupplier partner for Evergreen Care culinary innovation event. Hosted the Chefs Day event at BWG Foodservice Academy near Dublin Airport, providing professional development and training facilities.
- Unilever Food SolutionsminorSupplier partner supporting Evergreen Care Chefs Day event. Executive Chef Audrey Crone led sessions on time and cost-saving kitchen ideas for soups, desserts and more.
- OcrasminorSpecialist partner for the Evergreen Care culinary event. Dysphagia Chef Niamh Condron showcased nutritious, texture-modified meals designed to support residents with swallowing difficulties.
- C. CasesminorSupplier partner providing expert advice on hotel signage. Owner Joost Nijland offers guidance on creating cohesive, sustainable, and impactful signage solutions.
- TarkettminorFlooring solutions supplier for Continental Europe. Key Account Manager Gregory Van Overmeeren provides expert tips on choosing right flooring for hotels, including sustainable options and the ReStart recycling program.
- NORMminorFurniture supplier partner providing insights on selecting durable, sustainable, and cost-effective FF&E. Project Manager Arthur Weggeman specializes in plug-and-play furniture, eco-friendly options, and time-saving bathroom renovation solutions.
- EcoVadiscorePartnership with EcoVadis, an independent global sustainability rating agency, through the HARP alliance. EcoVadis provides robust methodologies to evaluate and elevate supply chain sustainability performance across the global hospitality supply chain.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Avendra competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Entegra Procurement Services: Hospitality-focused GPO that is a co-founding member of the HARP alliance with Avendra. Operates a similar procurement model for hotels, restaurants, and senior living, with comparable supplier-funded take-rate economics.
- Foodbuy (Compass Group): Food procurement GPO and subsidiary of Compass Group, one of the largest contract food service companies. Operates a near-identical model of aggregating hospitality and food service procurement spend to negotiate supplier terms - direct competitor in hospitality GPO.
- HAVI: Global supply chain and procurement partner for the food service and hospitality industry. Provides procurement, logistics, and supply chain management with similar customer profile (QSR and hospitality) to Avendra.
Broad incumbents
- Sodexo: Global food services and integrated facilities management company that also operates procurement services for its hospitality and corporate clients. Larger and broader than Avendra, but overlapping in food service procurement value chain.
- GEP Worldwide: Large procurement and supply chain consulting firm serving global enterprises with strategic sourcing and procurement technology. Comparable in strategic procurement services but broader in scope beyond hospitality GPO.
- SAP Ariba: Enterprise procurement platform (now part of SAP) offering sourcing, supplier management, and contract management at scale. Used by large hospitality and healthcare systems, representing disintermediation risk for GPOs like Avendra.
Emerging players
- Coupa Software: Cloud-based spend management and procurement platform provider. Direct competitor to Avendra's Pi e-procurement system, offering e-procurement, invoicing, and supplier management for enterprise buyers including hospitality.
- Jaggaer: Procurement and supplier management SaaS provider serving indirect and direct procurement needs across industries. Overlaps with Pi e-procurement capabilities and is a potential technology alternative for Avendra's mid-market hospitality clients.
Regional players
- McLane Company: Major US food service distribution and procurement partner that serves convenience stores, restaurants, and hospitality operators. Comparable in supply chain aggregation but distribution-led rather than GPO-led.
Others
- PROACTIS: Procurement and spend management software provider for mid-market organizations. Indirect overlap with Avendra's Pi platform as an alternative technology solution for similar buyer segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Avendra social profiles
Digital presenceAvendra financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Avendra leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Avendra subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Avendra funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Avendra M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Avendra
What does Avendra do?
Avendra International is a global Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) that negotiates supplier contracts on behalf of hospitality, healthcare, and education clients, aggregating $20.5 billion in purchasing power across 2,500+ supplier agreements. It delivers these procurement services through dedicated regional relationship managers and the proprietary Pi cloud-based e-procurement platform, complemented by specialized modules such as Piranha (menu/allergen management) and Pi Stock Management.
Is Avendra a public or private company?
Avendra is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Avendra founded?
Avendra was founded in 2000. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Avendra based?
Avendra is headquartered in Rockville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Avendra make money?
One revenue line is on record: supplier Membership Fees.
Who are Avendra's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Entegra Procurement Services, Foodbuy (Compass Group) and HAVI. Broad incumbents are Sodexo, GEP Worldwide and SAP Ariba. Emerging players are Coupa Software and Jaggaer. McLane Company is listed as a regional player. PROACTIS is listed as an others.
Does Avendra have an API?
No public API is recorded for Avendra.
What industry is Avendra in?
Avendra's product category is Group Purchasing Organization (Procurement Services). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAHAB, Procurement & Strategic Sourcing, with a secondary code of BPAAAJAI, Catalog & eProcurement Enablement (Punchout, Item Master). Its NAICS code is 425120 and its SIC code is 8742.