A global local food marketplace
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Challenge
To create a series of low cost local food networks which deliver the following benefits;
1. Future food security
2. Support food and tourism enhancing the visitor experience
3. Reduce emissions : address global warming
4. Create new markets for local food producers
5. Stimulate the regional economy growth
6. Support healthy eating
7. Provide education regarding food provenance, taste and social interaction
Solution
JDBytes have created www.larderbytes.com using technology which has been adapted from supply chain management systems. This new and innovative adaptation takes the corporate supply chain model and re-engineers it for use by small and medium sized independently operated businesses. It’s a powerful tool which can create a series of virtual regional food markets, connecting each point of the food supply chain from farmers, fishermen and food processors to end customers. Local “Farmers’” markets are increasingly popular, as is an emerging consumer interest in local food. This technology provides a virtual marketplace, accessible by even the smallest producers providing easy to operate advanced supply chain technology to a mass market at an affordable price.
The team has employed their experience in supply chain logistics and state of the art technology development, to create a network of low cost food supply chains which provide choice, with optimal quality, incorporating seasonal and regional variations - all with a low environmental impact. The networks are designed to be totally transparent ensuring complete traceability from farm to fork whilst providing the flexibility to add specialist international products as demand grows and food production adapts to meet the customer’s future needs. The technology delivers huge benefits to small producers who may otherwise struggle to take product to market. It additionally provides the supply chains with the opportunity to operate under a regional brand providing a more advantageous collective marketing opportunity.
A dynamic network of small businesses is created, offering commercial sustainability, encouraging investment and employment, often in a predominantly rural economy. Local distribution reduces costs and improves margins providing a fair-trade opportunity for all, helping small producers operate competitively. Our new shopping processes integrate education with a fun, convenient, user friendly interface. This builds on social values raising awareness of food production, social interaction, taste and well-being. Our healthy eating concept addresses issues relating to health and diet, portion control and obesity, supported by the provision of fresh high quality food purchased through an innovative purchasing function. Additional functions focus on environmental issues reducing the volumes of food and packaging waste going to landfill. The regional nature of our networks deliver a reduction in carbon emissions, whilst waste reduction supports a decrease in other harmful gases such as methane etc.
Results
These systems have been in use by premier hotels and restaurants and currently have over five hundred members registered in Scotland. We are currently developing a carbon index model to inform the customer of their cumulative carbon saving achieved by using the system. The objective is to encourage and incentivise every customer, household or business to buy local food and save a target average of 20Kg Co2 per week (1 tonne per customer per year)
Our web based technology provides added value to food tourism, delivering food provenance, developing the visitor’s experience of regional dishes, recipes and ingredients. Our objective is for the visitor to enjoy, cook, taste and experience regional food as it’s cooked in its region of origin.
Target Markets
Markets include tourism, food service outlets hotels and restaurants, retail outlets and direct to consumer, through home delivery. These are and will be driven by the increased awareness of issues surrounding local food, global warming, and the need to optimize the use of fresh water. There is an increasing global drive to deliver future food security, customers should also enjoy all the benefits that local food has to offer. We currently have interest in development projects in Europe and the USA with the potential to create a truly global local marketplace.
Specific Interests In Meeting Partnering
Our interest in meeting with partners is to develop a commercially sustainable international network. The function of the partner network is to share knowledge, research and experience to support the development of local food networks through collaboration. Our objective is to provide a technology platform that not only meets our partner’s immediate needs but also provides opportunities for future International collaboration and development.
Specific Interests In Customer Contacts
We have a specific interest in making contact with potential customers from the following interest groups;
1. Organisations supporting local food producers
2. Businesses engaged in food and Tourism
3. Primary food producers and food processors
4. Environmental groups (climate change)
5. Food and health
6. Food and education
7. Regional / Rural Development
Early research is demonstrating that each country has its own primary objective. We intend to adapt our technology to meet that objective. Through collaboration we are then able to draw on the experience gained internationally from other networks to help our customer make the best use of our systems to develop new and more rewarding business opportunities which are commercially sustainable