Case study
Nawa Kitchen keeps its energy renewals on its own timetable
How a London restaurant turned a single contract cycle into an ongoing renewals partnership, with reminders, market insight and a direct line to Clearsight between contracts.
Nawa Kitchen at a glance
ClientNawa Kitchen
SectorRestaurant and hospitality
LocationLondon
ServiceBusiness energy renewals
TermRolling annual renewals
EngagedOngoing
Nawa Kitchen wanted renewal decisions made when the business was ready for them, not when a supplier rollover deadline forced the issue. Clearsight now runs the renewal cycle, flags market movements and handles queries between contracts.
Annual
Renewal cycle managed ahead of each expiry
Full network
Suppliers compared at every renewal
Direct line
Named Clearsight contacts between renewals
Ongoing
Reminders and market insight, not just at renewal
Client overview
Nawa Kitchen is a London restaurant. Like most hospitality businesses of its size, energy is one of a handful of fixed-cost lines that the finance function has to renew every year, usually with a supplier-imposed deadline sitting somewhere in the middle of a busy trading period.
The first engagement with Clearsight was a straightforward renewal. What followed was a request to keep the relationship running year on year, so the renewal was no longer something the business had to remember to pick up.
The challenge
Renewals had been handled reactively. A supplier letter would arrive, the deadline would be close, and the choice was between accepting the offered rate or scrambling to compare in a short window. That is how most small hospitality businesses end up on a tariff that is fine rather than good.
The finance team wanted three things: enough notice to make a considered decision, visibility of what the wider market was doing, and someone to ring when a supplier query landed that they did not have time to chase themselves.
How we approached it
We treated it as an account rather than a one-off transaction. That meant setting a renewal calendar that starts well ahead of contract expiry, running each renewal across the live supplier network rather than a preferred short list, and giving the client named contacts at Clearsight who pick up queries between contracts.
Market movements that materially affect the next renewal get flagged when they happen. A wholesale price shift in the spring is worth knowing about in the spring, not in the renewal week.
What we did, step by step
Set a renewal calendar for the account, with the first comparison starting several months before each contract expiry.
At each renewal, ran the comparison across the current active supplier network and presented the options with rate, term and any conditions clearly laid out.
Flagged wholesale and supplier pricing movements during the year where they were likely to change the next renewal decision.
Gave the client named contacts, Adam and Heidi, for anything that came up between contracts: billing queries, supplier letters, rate questions.
Repeated the cycle each year, so the renewal is now a scheduled conversation rather than a deadline the business has to catch.
The result
Renewals are handled on the business’s timetable. Options arrive with time to consider them. Market context arrives when it is useful. Supplier queries are picked up by Clearsight rather than absorbed into the client’s admin time.
| Area | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal timing | Reactive, driven by supplier deadline | Scheduled, started months ahead |
| Supplier options | Incumbent offer, occasional comparison | Full active network compared each time |
| Market visibility | None between renewals | Movements flagged when relevant |
| Supplier queries | Handled in-house | Named Clearsight contacts by phone or email |
“Clearsight Energy have built a rapport with us which makes every renewal just that little more easier, and I appreciate the insights and reminders they provide me which allows me to secure the best oncoming tariffs that suits our business needs for said period. The convenience of discussing quotes when the business is ready, and Clearsight is always prepared for my annual communications. I will be back again for the next renewals. Clearsight has offered a flexible range of providers and are always happy to speak and manage on the client’s behalf, particularly Adam and Heidi are only a phone call or an email away from taking an issue off our hands and seeking a resolve. I can trust that they are fair and that Clearsight Energy intentions are to create long term business relationships with continuing support.”
Why annual renewals go wrong for small hospitality
| Feature | Reactive renewal | Managed renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Notice period | Weeks, set by the supplier letter | Months, set by the renewal calendar |
| Options seen | The incumbent offer | The active supplier network |
| Market context | None | Flagged during the year |
| Rollover risk | High if the deadline is missed | Low, the renewal is scheduled |
| Who chases suppliers | The business | Clearsight |
Key procurement insight
The rate on the day matters, but so does when the decision gets made. A business that starts its renewal months out, with the whole market in front of it, is in a materially better position than one deciding in the final week against a single offer. Timing is a procurement lever in its own right.
What this means for similar businesses
Restaurants, cafes and pubs tend to renew energy once a year and rarely have a spare pair of hands in the finance function to run the comparison properly. An account relationship, where the renewal is scheduled and the supplier chasing is done for you, removes most of the risk of landing on a rollover or accepting a rate that was never compared.
Industry terms in this case study
- Renewal window
- The period before a fixed contract expires during which a new contract can be signed. Missing it can trigger a rollover onto out-of-contract rates.
- Rollover
- Where an incumbent supplier automatically continues supply on default terms after a contract expires. Rollover rates are frequently higher than the equivalent fixed contract available on the open market.
- Tariff
- The pricing structure of a supply contract, including the standing charge and unit rate.
- Letter of authority (LOA)
- A short signed document giving Clearsight permission to speak with suppliers on the client’s behalf. It does not commit the client to any contract.
- Active supplier network
- The set of suppliers currently quoting for business energy at the time of a renewal. It changes as suppliers enter, leave and reprice the market.
The bottom line
Nawa Kitchen no longer has to remember its energy renewal. The comparison starts early, the whole market is in front of the business when it decides, and supplier queries between contracts land with Clearsight rather than in the finance inbox.
Common questions
How far ahead of renewal should a restaurant start comparing?
Typically three to six months for a single site, and up to twelve months for larger or multi-site operators. Earlier starts give more choice and remove the pressure of deciding against a supplier deadline.
Does ongoing renewal support cost the client anything?
No separate fee. Clearsight is paid by a commission built into the unit rate, disclosed on the letter of authority and on any quote issued. That covers the renewal work, market updates and query handling.
Can the client still choose which supplier to sign with?
Yes. Clearsight presents the options from the active supplier network. The client makes the decision at every renewal.
Published with permission
This case study is published with the written consent of Nawa Kitchen. The testimonial is reproduced verbatim. If you would like your own engagement written up, get in touch.