Zoos Victoria Food & Beverage Retail and Catering Services - Melbourne Zoo & Werribee Open Range Zoo

Zoos Victoria is one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions, welcoming more than 2.6 million visitors each year.

Zoos Victoria is seeking a single catering operator to manage all Food & Beverage Retail and Catering Services across two key sites, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Zoos Victoria operates four sites and Healesville Sanctuary and Kyabram Fauna Park are not included in this tender. The current Catering Services Agreement expires naturally on 16 July 2026. The new contract will operate under a Management Fee model, with the conforming proposal based on a seven-year term.

Respondents may also submit a non-conforming offer in addition to the mandatory conforming offer. High-quality food and beverage retail and catering are vital for an outstanding visitor experience, and this tender is a significant commercial opportunity for all parties. The key objectives of this tender are to drive revenue growth across the portfolio, supported by capital investment in both new and existing outlets, including functions and event spaces.

At Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo, Food & Beverage Retail and Catering Services generate approximately $21 million in annual revenue. The portfolio includes 16 retail outlets, cafés and kiosks that provide a diverse range of dining experiences for a wide variety of audiences. In addition, five function rooms and 19 event spaces, including lawns, huts and pavilions, accommodate everything from intimate gatherings to large-scale corporate and community events. Collectively, these assets form a dynamic and multifaceted food and beverage operation that is integral to the overall visitor experience.

The key objectives of the tender are to:

• Drive sustainable revenue growth across all food and beverage operations

• Deliver a high-quality, innovative, and diverse offering that appeals to all visitors, including members, families, school groups, local and international visitors, corporate and event clients

• Secure capital investment for the development, refurbishment and expansion of existing and new facilities

As one of Zoos Victoria’s most significant commercial contracts, the right partner is critical to the organisation’s ongoing success. Beyond the financial impact, this partnership directly supports Zoos Victoria’s core purpose: protecting wildlife, preventing extinction, and advancing conservation initiatives at local, national and international levels. Zoos Victoria invites proposals that combine creativity, operational excellence, and strategic insights to help shape the future of food and beverage services across two of Victoria’s most iconic destinations. We are seeking a partner who can bring bold, forward-thinking ideas, innovative approaches, and strong strategic capability.

This tender has a mandatory site briefing requirement, refer to Part A.1.6 for attendance and registration details.

Briefings

Site Briefings Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo

A briefing session will be held at Elliott Ave, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, 3052 on 4 February 2026 09:30 am.

Notes: An industry briefing for the Food and Beverage Retail and Catering Services Tender will be held on Wednesday 4 February 2026, between 9.30am and 4.30pm AEDT.The day will commence with a presentation at Melbourne Zoo’s Bong Su Function Room, followed by site tours of Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo.To register your attendance, please complete the form Part B.2 and return via email to procurement@zoo.org.au by 5pm AEDT on Monday 19 January 2026 with subject line: ‘26ZVCP_RFT - Industry Briefing Registration – [Company name]Further details and instructions will be provided on Monday 2 February 2026 via email to those registered.

A site visit is a pre-requisite to submission and consideration of a bid.

Attendance at the briefing is a pre-requisite to submission and consideration of a bid.

Registration closes on 19 January 2026 05:00 pm