Neil Chapman, Chief Procurement Officer for Compass Group Germany, outlined a strategic approach centered on data, technology, and supplier partnerships during a fireside chat at Expana’s Agri-Food Europe 2026 in Amsterdam.
Talking to Marcel Goldenberg, Chief Market Reporting Officer (Food, Feed & Industrial), Expana, Chapman acknowledged the persistent challenges facing food service operators in an environment marked by cost pressures and supply chain complexity. He stressed the importance of transparent communication with clients about cost implications, saying “cost always a difficult conversation we need to plan for it we need to communicate it we need to help our clients prepare for it.”
The importance of strategic focus
Chapman emphasized the company’s commitment to traditional values alongside innovation, stating “We believe in the power of togetherness, and we believe in the concept of feeding people and the social interaction and the benefits of that so that will always be the kind of core for us.”
When discussing crisis management, Chapman highlighted the importance of strategic focus and supplier relationships. “We needed to reset the direction and we needed to be clear about what really mattered,” he commented. He noted the company invested heavily in supplier relationships over the past 24 months, adding that “We want to be a growth engine for suppliers and we’re starting to see that really paid dividends.”
Chapman outlined a strategy balancing consolidation with contingency planning to avoid single points of failure across the organization’s complex operations. He emphasized working deeply with select supply partners to unlock mutual objectives.
The part played by AI
On AI adoption, Chapman acknowledged the company has not progressed as far as desired but identified it as a significant focus area. The organization aims to leverage AI for improved efficiency, better outcomes, and deeper supplier partnerships, particularly regarding risk management.
Chapman advocated for applying consistent data methodology to both cost increases and reductions, emphasizing fair treatment of partners, highlighting the importance of transparency with clients. The CPO emphasized that different product categories require different data sets and analytical approaches, from cleaning chemicals to fuel to broccoli. Chapman stressed the critical role of collaboration and people in decision-making alongside data, saying “It’s about the power of people, the power of collaborating, and the power of using data to then make the right decision at the right time in our organization.”
Chapman identified cost volatility, rather than availability, as the primary challenge, with the company working to develop closer relationships with suppliers and producers to mitigate risk and improve outcomes. Risk management emerged as a key organizational differentiator Chapman intends to strengthen further.
Written by Simon Duke
