Aramark is a $18 billion food services, facilities management, and uniform services company operating across healthcare, education, sports venues, corrections, and corporate campuses. It is one of the largest food service contractors in North America and a consistent Billion Dollar Roundtable member, meaning it publicly commits to spending at least $1 billion annually with diverse suppliers.
This guide covers exactly how to position your business, where to register, and what to expect from first contact through a purchase order.
Aramark's supplier diversity program
Aramark's program operates under its Supply Chain and Procurement division. The company publishes an annual diversity spend report and has maintained Billion Dollar Roundtable membership for multiple consecutive years, which requires verified third-party spend reporting.
Aramark is an active corporate member of:
- NMSDC (National Minority Supplier Development Council)
- WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council)
- DVBE programs (Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise, primarily for California government contracts)
- National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
- Disability:IN
Membership in these bodies means Aramark has staff who attend national conferences, sit on regional council boards, and use those networks to identify new vendors. Getting into one of those pipelines is the fastest path to visibility.
Aramark does not publish a single public spend target on its corporate site, but Billion Dollar Roundtable membership sets a floor. The program tracks MBE, WBE, SDVOSB, LGBTBE, DOBE, and small business spend separately.
Which certifications carry weight
The certifications that Aramark's procurement team recognizes and tracks:
MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) — issued by NMSDC regional councils. This is the most recognized certification for Aramark's core vendor base. If you are minority-owned and targeting food, distribution, or facility services, this is the single most important credential to hold.
WBE (Women's Business Enterprise) — issued by WBENC or a WBENC affiliate regional partner organization. Aramark actively sources WBE vendors for catering, staffing, and uniform suppliers.
SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) — federal certification administered through SBA VetCert. Aramark counts SDVOSB spend toward its diversity commitments on government contracts, particularly in healthcare and corrections.
LGBTBE (LGBT Business Enterprise) — issued by NGLCC. Less common than MBE/WBE but relevant; Aramark's NGLCC membership means procurement staff are aware of the certification.
DOBE (Disability-Owned Business Enterprise) — issued by Disability:IN. Aramark's Disability:IN partnership means DOBE vendors get visibility in some sourcing rounds.
SBE (Small Business Enterprise) — for vendors that don't hold a diversity certification, Aramark also tracks small business spend. If your revenue is under the relevant SBA size standard for your NAICS code, register as a small business even if you're pursuing diversity certification in parallel.
One practical note: Aramark operates across multiple states and sectors. Some of its government-funded contracts (school nutrition, corrections, public universities) require certified DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) vendors under federal transportation law or state procurement rules. If you are targeting those segments, DBE certification through your state DOT matters.
Where and how to register
Aramark uses Jaggaer (formerly SciQuest) as its supplier management platform. The registration link is on Aramark's supplier portal page at aramark.com under the "Suppliers" section.
Steps to register:
- Go to aramark.com, navigate to the footer or "About" section, and find the Suppliers or Supplier Diversity page.
- Click through to the Jaggaer portal and create a supplier profile.
- Upload your diversity certification documents (MBE, WBE, SDVOSB, etc.) directly in the portal. Expired certifications will prevent your profile from being tagged as a diversity vendor.
- Select the NAICS codes and commodity codes that match your offerings. Aramark's sourcing team uses these codes to filter suppliers when running RFPs, so accuracy matters more than volume. Pick the 3-5 codes that actually describe what you sell, not everything you could theoretically do.
- Submit the profile for review.
Jaggaer profiles sit in a queue. Aramark's supplier diversity team reviews new registrations periodically, not in real time. Follow up by email after submitting — the contact is typically listed on the supplier diversity page.
What product and service categories Aramark sources from diverse suppliers
Aramark's core business gives it specific sourcing needs that align well with certain diverse supplier categories.
Food and beverage products — Aramark's local diverse food vendor program is one of its more visible initiatives. It actively sources local and regional food producers, specialty ingredient suppliers, minority-owned food brands, and diverse distributors. If you produce food products or distribute locally, this is where Aramark's program has the most active deal flow.
Uniform and workwear manufacturing and distribution — Aramark Uniform Services is a separate but related division. Diverse suppliers in textile manufacturing, embroidery, laundry services, and workwear distribution compete for contracts here.
Facilities and janitorial services — grounds maintenance, cleaning services, pest control, and equipment maintenance at Aramark-managed sites are frequently sourced from local diverse vendors.
Technology and software — point-of-sale systems, inventory management, workforce scheduling, and compliance software. Smaller technology vendors with NMSDC or WBENC certification can compete here, especially if they serve the food service or facilities sector.
Professional services — marketing, HR consulting, logistics consulting, and legal services appear in diverse supplier spend reports. These are harder to break into without a direct referral but are part of Aramark's reported spend.
Staffing — temporary and contract staffing for food service operations, particularly during large events, is a recurring diverse supplier category.
Practical tips for getting a contract
Get into the NMSDC or WBENC network first. Aramark's supplier diversity manager attends the NMSDC Annual Conference (typically held in October) and regional council matchmaking events throughout the year. If you are a certified MBE, the NMSDC regional council near you probably hosts an Aramark business session or reverse trade show at least once a year. Show up. That is a warm introduction that a cold email never replicates.
WBENC's National Conference (held in June) includes Aramark as a participating corporate member. WBEs attending the conference have structured one-on-one meeting slots with Aramark procurement staff. Register early; those slots fill in February.
Direct outreach to the supplier diversity team. Find the name and email of Aramark's Director of Supplier Diversity or Supplier Diversity Manager on LinkedIn or through NMSDC's corporate member directory. A short, factual email works better than a long pitch deck: your certification, your NAICS codes, your revenue range, and one sentence on what you supply. Ask if they have an upcoming sourcing event or RFP cycle in your category.
Target a specific operating unit. Aramark is organized into business units: Education (K-12 and higher ed), Healthcare, Sports and Entertainment, Corrections, and Business Dining. Each has its own procurement contacts. A school nutrition director in your region has more authority over local food vendor decisions than a national category manager. Regional and district-level outreach is underused.
Show up to reverse trade shows. Aramark participates in NMSDC regional reverse trade shows and occasionally runs its own small business supplier events. These are the fastest path to a named procurement contact in your specific category.
Don't rely on the portal alone. Portal registration is necessary but not sufficient. Most contracts that diverse suppliers win at Aramark come through a direct relationship followed by an RFP invitation. The portal ensures you're in the system when that invitation goes out.
Realistic timeline and what to expect
From certification to first contract, plan for 12 to 24 months. That is normal for a company of Aramark's size and procurement structure.
Months 1-3: Obtain or renew your diversity certification. Register in the Jaggaer portal. Connect with the NMSDC or WBENC regional council in your geography.
Months 3-6: Attend one regional event where Aramark participates. Get a named contact. Follow up with your capability statement and NAICS codes.
Months 6-12: Stay in contact. Respond to any RFPs or information requests quickly. Some vendors get a small pilot order or a subcontract opportunity through a prime supplier at this stage.
Months 12-24: If the relationship has developed, you may receive a formal RFP invitation. Aramark's procurement process requires multiple approvals for new vendors above a certain contract value, so even after a positive relationship, the contracting paperwork takes 60 to 90 days.
One thing to calibrate expectations on: Aramark's scale means most contracts are for consistent volume across many sites, not one-off orders. They are looking for vendors who can deliver reliably across a district or region, not just a single location. If your capacity is currently local or limited, start by targeting a single Aramark district or a subcontract role with a current prime supplier rather than a national agreement.
The local food vendor program is the fastest entry point for food product suppliers because it was built specifically for smaller, regional vendors. If you sell food products and hold an MBE or WBE certification, that program is where to start.
