Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), governing nearly 300 schools, previously relied on a vast network of suppliers, creating significant administrative workload across ordering, invoicing and reconciliation. Seeking to streamline procurement, MACS issued a tender for a single supplier capable of meeting the diverse needs of all schools. COS, already one of their existing suppliers, leveraged its broad product range—from technology and furniture to art and craft supplies—and its experience advising on sole‑supplier tenders to help shape the tender requirements and ensure it covered minimum ranging, scope and capability necessary for successful statewide supply.
Despite acting as an advisor, COS still needed to deliver a compelling offer to win the contract. It highlighted not only its commercial competitiveness and proven logistics capability but also its reputation as an Australian family‑owned company with strong commitments to sustainability and ethical sourcing. COS showcased its Modern Slavery statement, Ethical Sourcing Policy and charitable contributions through the Lyone Foundation, as well as its ability to scale, source specialised products and provide dedicated account management. These strengths distinguished COS from other major suppliers, including Officeworks, Winc and Kookaburra.
COS ultimately secured a three‑year, $8‑million‑per‑year contract as the sole preferred supplier for 297 MACS schools, beginning in March 2024. Early performance validated MACS’s decision, particularly during the demanding Back to School season, when COS demonstrated exceptional agility by securing an additional warehouse to manage order volume. MACS praised the efficiency of deliveries, the responsiveness of account management, and the high standard of customer service, reinforcing COS’s value as a trusted long‑term partner.
