CoreTrust is marking its 20th anniversary with a procurement platform that now manages approximately $7 billion in annual aggregated spend for more than 4,000 members, supported by more than 400 private equity partners, 80 supplier partners, and 125 pre-negotiated contracts.
Founded in 2006, CoreTrust operates as a strategic group purchasing organization focused on helping companies improve purchasing economics and generate operational leverage across indirect spending categories.
Its model aggregates spending across a large network of businesses and combines that purchasing scale with negotiated contracts, category expertise, supplier relationships, and data tools.
CoreTrust’s supplier portfolio includes established companies such as FedEx, Insight, Enterprise Mobility, and Staples, newer category leaders such as Ramp and Redwood, and the strategic partner Deal IQ.
The company works across corporate services, facilities, technology, logistics, and other indirect spend categories where individual businesses may have less purchasing leverage or fewer dedicated procurement resources.
One of CoreTrust’s long-running relationships is with Blackstone, which has partnered with the organization across much of its 20-year history.
Blackstone Operating Partner Greg Beutler described CoreTrust as one of the firm’s more effective tools for generating value across portfolio companies through lower costs, operational efficiencies, improved vendor performance, and reinvestment in growth.
CoreTrust is also investing in technology intended to increase the speed at which members identify and capture savings.
The company’s CoreTrust Experience Platform, or CXP, provides AI-driven insights, greater visibility into spending, and automated benchmarking.
CoreTrust said the platform can uncover cost-saving opportunities and accelerate adoption of negotiated contracts from weeks to hours.
The company is simultaneously expanding beyond its traditional corporate procurement model.
Its CoreTrust Public Sector business provides competitively solicited and audit-ready contracts to state, local, and education organizations.
CoreTrust has also expanded through acquisition.
Its purchase of BuyQ extended the company’s procurement capabilities to more than 4,000 charter and private schools nationwide, adding additional scale in public and private education purchasing.
International expansion represents another component of CoreTrust’s growth strategy.
CoreTrust Europe is extending its negotiated contract model into the United Kingdom and other European markets, providing members with purchasing terms, procurement governance, and support across multiple countries.
Supplier partners have also grown alongside the platform.
Insight President and CEO Jack Azagury said the relationship gives CoreTrust members access to Insight’s technology and services while reducing complexity around technology procurement.
Staples Chief Commercial Officer Michele Parzianello highlighted the expansion of the companies’ relationship beyond traditional office supplies as customer purchasing requirements have evolved.
Ramp Vice President of Channel Partnerships Guy Cartwright pointed to the combination of Ramp’s real-time spending visibility and automated controls with CoreTrust’s procurement expertise as an example of increasing convergence between finance and procurement.
CoreTrust plans to continue expanding its enterprise integrations, supplier network, geographic footprint, and purchasing categories.
Its broader strategy is based on the view that procurement can serve as a source of strategic and financial leverage rather than functioning primarily as an administrative cost center.
After two decades, the company is using its accumulated purchasing volume, supplier relationships, technology, and private equity partnerships to extend that model into additional markets and customer groups.
KEY QUOTES:
“Twenty years ago, we set out to prove that procurement could be a source of strategic advantage, not just a back-office function. What I’m most proud of isn’t just the scale we’ve reached; it’s the trust behind it. Every member, supplier, and partner who has grown with us is part of our story, and they’re the reason I’m even more excited about the next 20 years for CoreTrust.”
James Hallock, CEO Of CoreTrust
“Blackstone has partnered with CoreTrust across much of its 20-year history, and it remains one of the most effective levers we have for creating value across our portfolio. From established categories to new markets like Europe, CoreTrust consistently helps our companies cut costs, streamline operations, improve vendor service performance, and reinvest in growth.”
Greg Beutler, Operating Partner At Blackstone
“For 20 years, CoreTrust has built a model that creates real value for its members by making procurement simpler and more strategic. We’re proud to partner with CoreTrust to give its members easier access to Insight’s technology, services and expertise, helping them reduce complexity, move faster and turn technology investments into business outcomes.”
Jack Azagury, President And CEO Of Insight
“CoreTrust spent 20 years earning the trust of enterprise buyers, and that’s exactly why this partnership works. Together, we’re bringing real-time spend visibility and automated controls to thousands of organizations—combining Ramp’s technology with CoreTrust’s deep procurement expertise. It’s a strong signal of where procurement and finance are headed together.”
Guy Cartwright, Vice President Of Channel Partnerships At Ramp
