Catering Services Agreement (Airlines)

The following parties entered into this Agreement as at Agreement signing date in Agreement signing city:

Airline (Name) (“Party A”)
Address: Airline (Address (multi-line))
Legal Representative: Airline's representative name

Caterer (Name) (“Party B”)
Address: Caterer (Address (multi-line))
Legal Representative: Caterer representative name

Based on the principle of equality and mutual benefit, Party A and Party B hereby reach the following framework agreement on the provision of in-flight catering and other related in-flight services by Party B to Party A via consultation.

Scope of Services

Pursuant to this Agreement, Party B agrees to provide the ordering, preparation, supply, recycling, storage and loading services for the in-flight meal and supply; supply services of meal and service supplies in the two-class lounges; and other relevant services, for the arrival and departure flights designated by Party A at the airport where Party B is located.

Party A’s arrival and departure flights at the airport where Party B is located include scheduled flights and non-scheduled flights. Scheduled flights refer to the planned flights running according to the schedule; non-scheduled flights refer to special planes, charter flights, temporary flights or flight cancellations, delays, stopovers and alternate flights.

Party A in this Agreement includes Airline's group definition.

Rights and Obligations of Party A

Party A shall provide Party B with the distribution plan of meal and supply in advance, and inform Party B in time if it is necessary to adjust the distribution plan of meal and supply for non-scheduled flights. Party A has the right to adjust the variety and quantity of supplies according to the needs of flights and services.

Party A is responsible for providing supplies and tableware needed for meal to Party B as planned, or entrusting Party B to order according to Party A’s requirements when necessary.

Party A has the right to inspect Party B’s safety and hygiene irregularly, and require Party B to immediately improve the deficiencies.

Rights and Obligations of Party B

Party B shall provide meal, supply and other related services for Party A’s flights on time and in quantity conforming to the meal and supply distribution plan provided by Party A and the menu approved by Party A, and deliver the prepared meal and supply to Party A’s plane according to Party A’s requirements, place them at the designated location, and go through the handover procedures to ensure that Party A’s flight is not delayed due to meal and supply distribution.

Party B shall formulate, regularly adjust and replace the menu according to the requirements of Party A. Party B shall strictly implement Applicable food safety regulation and the aviation catering industry standards to ensure that the meals meet the national food hygiene laws and industry standards.

Party B shall comply with Party A’s requirements on safety, warehousing and recycling management.

Party B shall guarantee to assist Party A in performing this Agreement according to the corresponding Applicable stock exchange listing rules (hereinafter referred to as the Listing Rules).

Special Agreement

The pricing of both parties to the transaction shall follow the principle of fairness and reasonableness, based on the fair market price according to the national or local charging regulations, and the transaction price promised by Party B to Party A is not higher than the price or charging standard of an independent third party.

Party A and Party B unanimously agree that during the validity period of this Agreement, the annual transaction caps are Transaction cap year 1 amount in Transaction cap year 1, Transaction cap year 2 amount in Transaction cap year 2, and Transaction cap year 3 amount in Transaction cap year 3. With regard to the transaction caps, both parties shall meet the requirements of relevant Listing Rules during the implementation of this Agreement.

Liability for Breach

In case that either Party A or Party B violates this Agreement and fails to perform or fully perform its obligations under this Agreement, it will constitute a breach of contract. The breaching party shall bear the liability for breach of contract in accordance with the relevant provisions of Applicable civil code, and the other party has the right to terminate this Agreement.

Dispute Resolution

Party A and Party B shall settle any dispute arising from the interpretation, effectiveness and implementation of this Agreement through friendly negotiation. In case that negotiation fails, either party may submit the dispute to Dispute resolution court for litigation.

Effectiveness and Validity of this Agreement

This Agreement is valid for Agreement duration from Agreement effective date to Agreement end date. This Agreement shall be legally binding on both parties from the effective date.

Miscellaneous

Without the prior written consent of both parties, neither party shall arbitrarily change or modify the terms and contents of this Agreement. Any supplement, modification and written supplementary agreement agreed by both parties shall be legally binding on both parties.

For any matters not covered in this Agreement, both parties shall negotiate separately and sign a written supplementary agreement, which has the same legal effect as this Agreement.

This Agreement may be executed electronically in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Electronic signatures shall have the same legal effect as handwritten signatures.

Party A: Airline (Name)
Authorized Representative: Airline's representative name
Date: Agreement signing date

Pending

Party B: Caterer (Name)
Authorized Representative: Caterer representative name
Date: Agreement signing date

Pending

What is a catering services framework agreement?

A catering services agreement is a master contract for ongoing meal supply. It is not an agreement for a one-time event catering deal. It is designed to outline and create structure between the client and the catering provider. In most cases, it lists structure for recurring orders, menu updates, and service schedules. Catering services framework agreements are common within aviation, corporate cafeterias, hospitals, events, and logistics. Agreements like this create consistency, food safety, pricing transparency, and reliability.

Who uses a catering services framework agreement

Industries such as airlines and aviation catering departments leverage catering services framework agreements. Additionally, corporate and industrial cafeteria operators also use these agreements. Another group of people who use it includes event, facility, and hospitality managers. Government institutions and healthcare facilities, too, benefit from a well-structured agreement. Legal, procurement, and compliance teams standardizing supplier agreements can also use a defined catering services framework template.

What should you include in a catering services framework agreement?

Scope of services and delivery standards

Details surrounding meal prep, delivery timelines, menu changes, and logistics, as well as whether the services include in-flight, lounge, event, or on-site catering. It also helps set temperature controls, packaging, and accuracy requirements.

Food safety and hygiene compliance

Ensuring compliance with national and regional food safety laws is part of the job of a catering services agreement. It will list mandates for certifications, inspection rights, and hygiene controls for proper execution and management of the catering event. These elements of the agreement allow you to demand immediate corrective actions.

Pricing and payment structure

Defining pricing and payment structure by per-meal or per-order is another element to include. This allows for annual adjustments or caps in the agreement. Fees should be expanded to include delivery fees, surcharges, and penalty structures.

Client oversight and audit rights

Allows for inspection of kitchens, vehicles, and storage facilities. Defines audit frequency and compliance checks. It also requires the provider to promptly respond to deficiencies.

Liability and indemnification

Liability and indemnification are an essential part of any agreement. They assign responsibility for contamination, spoilage, delays, and losses. They also require insurance coverage to be outlined in the agreement.

Governance and dispute resolution

This clause will help define negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or court jurisdiction. It also makes sure that the agreement is in alignment with local commercial or civil codes.

Modifications and renewals

Allow space in your agreement for written supplements for menus, schedules, or pricing. It also maintains multi-year predictability with structured updates.

Practical tips for managing catering service agreements

Schedule quarterly hygiene inspections and performance reviews

Regular audits help maintain consistent food-handling safety standards across sites. Quarterly reviews also give both parties a structured forum to address service issues, menu adjustments, or fluctuations in demand before they become operational problems.

Include price-adjustment triggers tied to ingredient cost fluctuations

Food costs fluctuate rapidly due to supply chain issues, seasonality, or inflation. Building clear price-adjustment mechanisms, like caps, thresholds, or quarterly reviews. This helps prevent disputes and keeps the pricing model fair for both sides.

Document incident reports and complaints within your contract system

Any delivery delays, product issues, customer complaints, or hygiene incidents should be logged in writing. Storing these records in your contract platform creates a defensible paper trail for performance evaluations and more.

Require backup delivery plans for high-volume or time-critical services

Airlines, hospitals, schools, and corporate campuses can’t tolerate missed deliveries. Ensure the provider maintains contingency plans, like spare vehicles, alternate routes, or substitute production facilities, to avoid service interruptions.

Define delivery windows and penalties for late or rejected meals

Tight timelines—especially in aviation—leave no room for delays. Your agreement should outline exact delivery terms and windows, acceptable variances, and any penalties, etc.

Record all corrective actions in writing, not verbally

Whenever a client requests adjustments, for things like food temperature, packaging, or cleanliness or delivery timing, document the request and the provider’s response. This ensures both sides have a shared understanding.

Common mistakes to avoid

Don’t use short-term catering agreements for long-term operations.
Don’t forget to include certifications or inspection rights.
Don’t set pricing without an annual review of mechanisms
Don’t forget to define “on-time delivery” or “acceptable meal quality”
Don’t forget to address data-sharing rules for manifests or dietary info

How fynk helps you manage catering services agreements

fynk helps you track the contract lifecycle of multi-year contracts, pricing caps, and reviews. Compare clauses across multiple suppliers for consistency, create approval workflows for procurement, legal, and compliance needs. Additionally, you can store performance reviews, hygiene audits, and corrective actions in a single location. You can also automate renewal reminders to avoid service disruptions.

Notification and reminders settings in fynk

Free catering services framework agreement template

fynk’s catering services framework agreement template includes essential clauses like safety, pricing, delivery, and audit rights. It also has built-in smart fields to simplify recurring updates and make collaboration among procurement, operations, and legal teams easy. Centralize supplier agreements for easy tracking and review with our agreement.

Ready to formalize long-term service arrangements with food and catering services?

Use this catering services framework agreement template to formalize long-term catering partnerships.

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FAQs

What is a catering services framework agreement used for?: It is used to formalize long-term catering arrangements, including delivery schedules, safety requirements, pricing, and service responsibilities between the client and catering provider.
Does this agreement cover one-time catering events?: No. A framework agreement is designed for ongoing, recurring catering services rather than single events.
Can the scope of services be changed after signing?: Yes. Any changes must be made through written supplements or amendments agreed to by both parties.
How are disputes handled in a catering services framework agreement?: The agreement typically requires negotiation first, and if unresolved, disputes may be taken to the agreed court jurisdiction.