On March 3, members of Foodtech Innovation Network gathered for a Monthly Conversations breakfast seminar focused on public procurement. 

Ulrika Arnell from the City of Malmö shared insights from nearly three decades of working with public food procurement and explained how municipalities purchase food and how suppliers can engage with the system. 

The session sparked lively discussions and gave members practical insights into opportunities within the public food market. 

Why Public Procurement Matters 

Public procurement represents a significant part of the food market in Sweden. 

• Around 900 billion SEK is spent annually through public procurement in Sweden 

• The City of Malmö alone procures goods and services for roughly 10 billion SEK per year, including about 300 million SEK for food 

For many food companies, this represents a major potential market. At the same time, the procurement system can feel complex for companies that have not worked with it before. 

Making Public Procurement Easier 

During the session, Malmö’s Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) was highlighted as an example of a more flexible procurement model designed to lower the barrier for suppliers. The system is fully digital, free to join, and open until 2035. Suppliers apply to become part of the system and are then qualified by the city based on relevant criteria. When a need arises, Malmö sends an invitation to tender to the suppliers within the system. 

This approach allows companies to join continuously instead of waiting for the next major procurement cycle. It also creates new opportunities for smaller and local food producers to participate in the city’s public food purchasing. 

Product areas currently include: 

• Pantry goods 

• Frozen products 

• Fresh goods 

Because invitations to tender are only sent to suppliers within the system, one practical takeaway from the session was the importance of registering and describing your products and business as clearly as possible in the application. 

Learning Directly from the Expert 

One of the most valuable aspects of the session was the opportunity to ask questions directly to a procurement expert. The discussion helped clarify how the system works in practice and what steps suppliers can take to enter the public market. 

Moments like these are exactly what Monthly Conversations aim to create: focused gatherings where members gain insights and learn from both experts and peers. 

To follow upcoming opportunities, monitor Malmö’s procurement portal: 
City of Malmö procurement portal: http://www.kommersannons.se/malmo