Too often, the terms “food purchasing” and “food procurement” are used interchangeably within our industry. There is, in fact, more than a semantic difference between these two terms within the context of the food service industry. Whereas food purchasing generally refers to the ordering, payment and receipt of goods and services, the idea of food procurement encompasses both the process of product selection and the establishment of purchasing specifications that must proceed purchasing and form the foundation of any food cost control and food purchasing program. The following spreadsheet will fhelp you create your own written spec sheets.