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schools & colleges - FAQs
I understand that the Pelican service is free for schools - what's the catch?
There is no catch at all. Pelican's cost-saving service is free to schools.
Do I have to sign a contract with Pelican Buying?
No. There is no contractual relationship with Pelican Buying. If you are unhappy with the service, you may cancel your membership at any time.
How do I know I will save money with Pelican?
To ensure that you are absolutely confident about the savings you are going make, Pelican carries out a pricing audit. By comparing your existing prices with those available through Pelican, the audit enables you to see at a glance, precisely what you can expect to save, and it is carried out completely free of any charge!
Why do the suppliers want to work with Pelican?
Pelican introduces new business to suppliers and helps them to look after existing business.
How many suppliers does Pelican work with?
We currently work with about 80 food, non-food and equipment suppliers.
Are Pelican nominated suppliers quality checked?
All nominated suppliers are audited and undergo thorough quality checks before being approved. This process can take up to six months and we retain all supporting documents and copies of relevant independent food safety audits.
Do I have to use all of Pelican's suppliers or can I still use local suppliers?
You will have the option to use as many or as few of Pelican's nominated suppliers as you wish and you are certainly under no obligation to only use nominated suppliers.
Do I place orders through Pelican or deal with my supplier direct?
You continue to order directly with your supplier.
You can pay via our Central Billing system or pay your supplier direct.
Central Billing is a quick and easy method of paying your supplier bills. Your end of month statements are sent to Pelican where they are consolidated into one statement - reducing the amount of time you spend on administration. You will also receive an end of year bonus in the form of Cash Back. Your monthly statement will show the Cash Back points you have earned which, at the end of the year, are totalled and converted to £££s and are paid to you.
Do I have to pay all my suppliers via Central Billing?
No, but you will only be awarded Cash Back in relation to those suppliers that you do pay by Central Billing.
How does Pelican make its money?
Our nominated suppliers pay us an amount based on the total volume of sales.
It sounds good, but can I talk to another school that is using your service?
No problem. We are happy to provide you with details of schools in your area that are using the service. In fact we would encourage you to do so.