Value First, Inc.
Value First, Inc. is a nonprofit-owned group purchasing organization serving senior living communities across the United States by aggregating demand across 1,200+ vendors to deliver no-fee, non-exclusive procurement discounts on food, medical, environmental, and capital equipment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Value First, Inc. does
Value First, Inc. is a group purchasing organization (GPO) headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, that aggregates the procurement volume of senior living communities to negotiate discounted pricing with a curated portfolio of more than 1,200 vendors across food, medical, environmental, office supplies, and capital equipment categories. The company is wholly owned by LeadingAge and 25 state and regional affiliates, and operates as the primary GPO benefit for the association's senior living members, including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs).
The platform delivers two primary programs: the Five-Star Dining Program, which provides access to food distributors, menu planning tools (Menu2UPlus), and dining equipment, and the Labor Savings Solutions portfolio, which encompasses kitchen equipment, cleaning and sanitation, facility management, medical supplies, safety automation, and procurement software (Procurement Partners). Member communities pay no annual fee, face no minimum purchase requirements, and are not restricted from using other GPOs simultaneously, creating a low-friction adoption model that relies on consultation-based line-item cost comparisons conducted by regional representatives and the corporate team.
Value First generates revenue through vendor rebates and volume-based pricing arrangements with its supplier portfolio, and returns a share of that revenue to LeadingAge and its state/regional affiliates to fund programs supporting senior living communities. The go-to-market motion combines digital marketing, downloadable resources, and a territory-based field sales structure operating through LeadingAge affiliates, targeting enterprise-scale senior living operators across the United States. The company employs 8 people and operates with a lean cost structure relative to the breadth of its vendor network.
Value First, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Value First, Inc.
- Legal name
- Value First, Inc.
- Website
- https://value1stonline.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Value First, Inc. is a nonprofit-owned group purchasing organization serving senior living communities across the United States by aggregating demand across 1,200+ vendors to deliver no-fee, non-exclusive procurement discounts on food, medical, environmental, and capital equipment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Value First, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Senior Living Procurement Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hospital Shared Services, GPOs & System Support Organizations (HLAFAAAO)
Keywords
Where Value First, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Value First, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- GPO Membership and Vendor Rebates: Value First generates revenue through vendor rebates and volume-based pricing arrangements with its portfolio of 1200+ suppliers. Revenue is shared back to LeadingAge and its 25 state and regional affiliates to fund programs and services for senior living communities. Communities pay no annual fee to participate.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | No-cost membership with negotiated vendor pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Value First, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Value First, Inc. is a group purchasing organization (GPO) that aggregates the buying volume of senior living communities to negotiate discounted pricing with a portfolio of more than 1,200 vetted vendors across food, medical, environmental, office supplies, and capital equipment. Communities participate at no cost with no minimum purchase requirements and no exclusivity, accessing two flagship programs — the Five-Star Dining Program and Labor Savings Solutions — along with menu planning (Menu2UPlus) and spend management (Procurement Partners) tools.
Product overview
Value First, Inc. is a group purchasing organization (GPO) owned by LeadingAge and 25 state and regional affiliates. The company operates two main programs: the Five-Star Dining Program and Labor Savings Solutions. The Five-Star Dining Program provides access to food distributors, menu planning tools (Menu2UPlus), and dining equipment. Labor Savings Solutions encompasses a portfolio of over 25 supplier partnerships covering kitchen equipment (Robot-Coupe, Handgards, Select Brew), cleaning and sanitation (Ecolab, Hillyard with AI-powered KARCHER systems, SC Johnson TruShot), facility management (Tenant floor scrubbers, Forbo flooring, Smart Care equipment service), medical supplies (SmithNephew wound care, eNurse), safety automation (SafeCheck 360), and operational technology (Direct Supply connected clinical systems, Procurement Partners spend management). The platform aggregates over 1,200 vendors offering food, medical, environmental, office supplies, and capital equipment for senior living communities across the United States.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 5-Star Dining Program: A hospitality dining program for senior living communities featuring quality, affordability, variety, flexibility, and accountability in food services.
Products and services
- Five-Star Dining Program A flagship group purchasing program for senior living communities that provides access to multiple food distributors, grocery staples, fresh produce, meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, tableware, china, glass, and linens. Designed to lower dining service costs and enhance resident dining experience.
- Labor Savings Solutions A curated portfolio of labor-saving products and services for senior living communities covering kitchen equipment, cleaning and disinfection, facility management, UVC disinfection, and operational efficiency tools.
- Menu2UPlus A menu planning tool combining recipe database, menu costing, nutritional analysis, inventory ordering, and eProcurement integration for senior living food service operations.
- Procurement Partners Spend Management Platform Proprietary spend management platform that automates the purchasing process end-to-end from product selection to vendor payment for senior living operators.
- Value First Group Purchasing Membership The core membership program granting senior living communities access to negotiated contracts with 1,200+ vetted vendors across food, medical, environmental, office supplies, and capital equipment, with no annual fee, no minimum purchase requirement, and non-exclusive participation.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% of members see savings
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Value First, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Value First, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Value First, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- LeadingAgeflagshipValue First is owned by LeadingAge and operates as the association's primary group purchasing benefit. Revenue generated by Value First is shared back to LeadingAge to fund valuable programs and services that support senior living communities. LeadingAge is a national association representing thousands of not-for-profit organizations dedicated to making America a better place to grow old.
- 25 State and Regional LeadingAge AffiliatescoreValue First is co-owned by LeadingAge national and 25 state and regional affiliates. Regional representatives from these affiliates help engage and serve member communities in their territories.
- HPSI (Health Procurement Solutions, Inc.)coreValue First partners with HPSI to provide LeadingAge members access to cost-saving purchasing programs with best-in-class suppliers. HPSI appears to provide procurement technology and supplier management services.
- SyscocoreFeatured food distributor vendor providing grocery staples, fresh produce, meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy products. Sysco has over 50,300 employees supporting daily operations.
- US FoodscoreFeatured food distributor with nearly 25,000 employees and more than 60 locations, providing innovative food offering and comprehensive suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions.
- Martin Bros.coreFull-line foodservice distributor focusing on meeting the financial and quality needs of the senior living industry. Specializes in Menu Development, Spend Management, Regulatory Compliance and Dining Enhancements.
- Ben E. KeithcoreFood and beverage distribution leader serving 15 states with complete broad line distribution and premium beverage distribution serving over 62 Texas counties.
- Performance FoodservicecoreDelivers over 200,000 products to more than 125,000 customers, covering everything from condiments to fresh caught fish.
- McKesson Medical-SurgicalcoreLeading distributor of medical supplies based in Richmond, VA, offering thousands of products and integrated solutions to help reduce costs and streamline processes.
- Direct SupplycoreDedicated to delivering innovative solutions to senior living industry challenges, offering health and wellness, design renovation, construction and building management products.
- GraingercoreOffers more than 1.5 million products with consultative sales approach, product expertise, and premium digital experience to help keep operations running and communities safe.
- HD SupplycoreSingle source for maintenance supplies, resident care products, healthcare equipment, and quality repair parts with over 100,000+ products and free next-day delivery.
- First QualityminorLeader in adult incontinence category, serving long term care providers and major provider of store brand incontinence products in the U.S.
- Performance HealthminorLeader in consumer healthcare and largest global manufacturer and distributor of products to rehabilitation and sports medicine markets.
- Home Depot ProminorOffers Pro Benefits and business tools including competitive pricing, special shipping options, and advanced online business tools.
- Powerback RehabilitationminorProvider of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, respiratory therapy and wellness services for senior living communities.
- EcolabcoreCleaning, disinfection and infection prevention solutions including dishwashing, laundry, food prep, hand hygiene, and water systems products.
- Select BrewminorCoffee system designed for healthcare environments, maximizing sanitation and minimizing work for 24/7 operations.
- Robot-CoupeminorCulinary equipment manufacturer providing food processors, juice extractors, preparation machines and blenders to reduce labor costs in senior living kitchens.
- Smart Care Equipment SolutionsminorEquipment service provider offering 24/7/365 repair, preventative maintenance, and warranty service for commercial kitchen equipment.
- AramarkcoreUniform service provider offering laundering and delivery of uniforms, mats, mops and towels, plus restroom and first aid supply management.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Value First, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Sysco: Sysco is a national foodservice distributor and a Value First channel partner. Functions as a supplier through the GPO rather than a competitor, but its direct procurement programs represent a structural alternative.
- McKesson Medical-Surgical: McKesson is a leading medical supply distributor and a Value First vendor partner. Adjacent rather than competing, as it supplies through GPO contracts rather than operating one for senior living.
Direct peers
- Provista (Vizient): Provista, a Vizient-owned GPO, serves senior living, non-acute healthcare, and other sectors with negotiated vendor contracts. Direct competitor to Value First in the healthcare procurement space.
- Bonafide Health Systems: Bonafide Health Systems is a GPO focused exclusively on senior living and post-acute care, providing negotiated purchasing programs. Directly comparable to Value First in target market and business model.
- Direct Supply: Direct Supply is a senior living-focused procurement and capital equipment partner offering solutions across foodservice, environmental, and clinical categories. Highly comparable vertical focus and overlapping vendor relationships with Value First.
Broad incumbents
- Medline Industries: Medline is a major manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies with GPO-style services for healthcare providers. Comparable scale and supplier relationships with overlapping senior living relevance.
- HealthTrust Performance Group: HealthTrust is a healthcare GPO providing contracted supply chain services across the care continuum. Comparable GPO model but oriented primarily toward hospitals rather than senior living.
- Premier Inc. Premier is a large healthcare GPO serving hospitals and non-acute providers with supply chain and performance services. Broader incumbent with overlapping GPO capabilities but not specialized in the senior living vertical.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Value First, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceValue First, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Value First, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Value First, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Value First, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Value First, Inc.
What does Value First, Inc. do?
Value First, Inc. is a group purchasing organization (GPO) that aggregates the buying volume of senior living communities to negotiate discounted pricing with a portfolio of more than 1,200 vetted vendors across food, medical, environmental, office supplies, and capital equipment. Communities participate at no cost with no minimum purchase requirements and no exclusivity, accessing two flagship programs — the Five-Star Dining Program and Labor Savings Solutions — along with menu planning (Menu2UPlus) and spend management (Procurement Partners) tools.
Is Value First, Inc. a public or private company?
Value First, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Value First, Inc. founded?
Value First, Inc. was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Value First, Inc. based?
Value First, Inc. is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Value First, Inc. make money?
One revenue line is on record: GPO Membership and Vendor Rebates.
Who are Value First, Inc.'s main competitors?
Others on record are Sysco and McKesson Medical-Surgical. Direct peers are Provista (Vizient), Bonafide Health Systems and Direct Supply. Broad incumbents are Medline Industries, HealthTrust Performance Group and Premier Inc..
Does Value First, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Value First, Inc..
What industry is Value First, Inc. in?
Value First, Inc.'s product category is Senior Living Procurement Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFAAAO, Hospital Shared Services, GPOs & System Support Organizations.