Wild Eggs client spotlight

An executive chef discovers the power of partnering with a GPO

Want to add an innovative new breakfast sandwich to your menu? Consult culinary services. Want training for your staff? Bring in human resources. Need to lower your costs for food and supplies? Find a supplier.

But there’s a better way. Instead of contracting with multiple companies that serve each need, Wild Eggs, a locally owned eatery that opened its first location in 2007, decided to partner with Entegra. While Entegra is a group purchasing organization (GPO) that can provide its clients with cost savings on nearly all business purchases it is also a business performance company. From purchasing to packaging, training to sanitation and culinary to composting, Entegra has it covered.

Corporate Executive Chef Robert Tyler shared the top reasons they chose Entegra and why the relationship continues to work for them.

The big Entegra difference: the power of leveraging size

One central challenge that hospitality-driven businesses encounter is size. Because “We were looking at other GPOs when we were shopping with Entegra. At the time, we were kind of a small fish. And we were looking for that purchasing power that we could get with a larger fish, like Entegra. Without a partnering GPO, we found it harder to get the deals and relationships that Entegra could provide on program.

And we just realized that we didn't have the bargaining power to get the prices we needed to keep costs in line.” With $36 billion of global purchasing power, Entegra leverages its volume commitments to bring cost-savings and business-performance solutions to companies like Wild Eggs.

“When we sat down with Entegra to pursue the partnership, I was really surprised as to how much money we were leaving on the table beforehand. Entegra has been great for our bottom line; they were able to find us savings as well as money back on our purchases. At first, it seemed to be one of those situations that were too good to be true, but it turned out to be great."

The real cost savings from a GPO

When inflation was at its highest at the end of 2022, Chef Tyler knew he needed alternatives to raising prices or cutting labor. So, he leaned on the Entegra team for solutions. “Our food costs were crazy with the price of eggs, but we were able to find a good product that was a great to use and it saved us five percent on our food cost just with one item.”

Even as prices have waned, Chef Tyler continues to rely on Entegra for LTO development and product selection.

Food, supplies and so much more from a GPO

Wild Eggs discovered that Entegra offered more than cost savings on food. “Our president at the time traveled to a food show that Entegra was doing, and he called me on his way back from the show and said, ‘Robert, we haven't even scratched the surface of what they can do for us. They're saving us money and we're getting allowances, but that’s just the beginning.’”

From staff training to product cuttings, Wild Eggs discovered that Entegra could partner with them on much more than food purchasing. "We're still looking at doing some cuttings and some culinary consultation and just bouncing ideas off of each other.”

How can Entegra’s procurement solutions make your job easier?

As a busy executive chef responsible for menuing, kitchen and business operations, Chef Tyler expressed his appreciation for the support he receives in streamlining his many roles. Chef Tyler has used Entegra to problem-solve operational challenges as well as menu ideas. Adding value and saving time has been instrumental to staying within margins, even during challenging inflationary times.

“I would have to say one way that Entegra makes my life easier is the procurement of getting new products. But also, when I have an idea I want to do, for example, I want to do a breakfast sandwich on a donut and I contact my representative at Entegra. He sends me ideas and samples that I can work with and see if it's something that we need or can use.”

Chef Tyler has found that “Entegra is just an email away” when he needs a partner.

If you’re looking for a procurement partner, let’s talk. Call us at (833) 977-1765 or contact us to get more information about putting Entegra’s purchasing power to work for you.