In an effort to help eliminate barriers to access food, Feeding America recently launched OrderAhead, an online grocery ordering system. This is especially impactful as, over the past year, many Americans have been put under economic strain in light of the global pandemic. The new system enables people in need to order food online and select a pickup time and location.
"Having access to nutritious food is paramount in helping people live better. When someone has a difficult time accessing food, it's important we help connect the dots," said Maryann Byrdak, chief information officer at Feeding America. "OrderAhead is a tool that not only helps connect people to food assistance but does it in an efficient, convenient, and private way."
Charitable Grocery Ordering Systems
Feeding America Debuts OrderAhead to Make Food More Accessible
Trend Themes
1. Online Charitable Grocery Ordering - There is an opportunity to develop online charitable grocery ordering systems to help eliminate barriers to accessing food, increase convenience, and maintain privacy.
2. Tech-enabled Food Assistance - Tech companies can develop solutions that leverage the power of technology to address food insecurity by providing access to healthy and nutritious foods.
3. Contactless Pickup - There is a growing trend towards contactless pickup options for groceries and food, and this can be leveraged in the charitable food assistance space as well.
Industry Implications
1. Non-profit - Non-profit organizations can develop innovative solutions to help address food insecurity and increase access to healthy foods.
2. E-commerce - E-commerce companies can leverage their existing infrastructure to create online grocery ordering systems for charitable purposes.
3. Food Delivery - Food delivery companies can expand their offerings to include charitable meal and grocery delivery services, especially in areas where access to healthy foods is limited.