10.23.2026
Avendra International is expanding its Culinary Innovation Group, bringing culinary consulting, procurement intelligence and AI-powered tools into a broader service offering for hospitality clients. Announced October 21, the expansion is designed to help operators connect menu planning with sourcing and purchasing decisions across international markets.
For hotel food and beverage teams, the offering addresses decisions that link the menu to the supply chain, from recipe costs and ingredient availability to purchasing choices and responsible sourcing. Avendra positions the expanded group as a way to align these decisions with operational priorities while balancing quality, cost and guest appeal.
The expanded group combines culinary consulting with purchasing intelligence and technology-enabled decision support. Its services include menu development, recipe optimization, food-cost management and trend analysis, alongside guidance on purchasing trends, suppliers and product availability.
The technology component includes Hospitality IQ solutions such as Mosaic AI Supply Chain and Culinary Co-Pilot. According to Avendra, these capabilities bring together culinary expertise, procurement intelligence and AI-powered tools to support menu planning, sourcing and purchasing decisions.
Responsible sourcing is another part of the expansion. The group provides guidance on local, inclusive and sustainable sourcing, supported by analytics and reporting. Avendra said Sourcient, an AI-powered sourcing intelligence platform, adds visibility into purchasing activity and sourcing attributes to support reporting and decision-making.
Autumn Bayles, executive vice president of Global Supply Chain & Group Purchasing Organizations at Aramark, said hospitality operators face competing demands around menu creation, guest preferences, ingredient costs and supply-chain conditions. She described the expanded group as a way to bring culinary and operational expertise, procurement intelligence, responsible sourcing and emerging technologies into an integrated framework.
As part of the expansion, Paul Carr has been appointed chief culinary officer for Global Supply Chains and GPOs for Aramark + Avendra International. Paul Bloxham has been appointed chief culinary officer for Avendra International Europe. The company said the two newly created leadership roles will support a connected culinary strategy across its international client base.
Avendra said a July 2026 customer satisfaction survey identified food and beverage expansion as one of its clients’ top five business priorities. The announcement did not provide the survey’s sample size or detailed methodology.
The company said services and technologies will be introduced in line with local market readiness and client needs. Availability will therefore vary across its international markets.
Avendra International serves hotels, hospitality and leisure resorts, healthcare organizations and educational institutions. The company reports approximately $21 billion in procurement power and is backed by Aramark’s footprint across more than 40 countries and territories.