gREAT PLAINS FOOD BANK - FARGO, ND

SOLVING FOR REMOTE-RURAL DISTRIBUTION CHALLENGES IN PURSUIT OF ENHANCED FRESH PRODUCE AVAILABILITY AND STREAMLINED LOGISTICS

EVALUATION, OPERATIONS PLANNING | 2022 - 2023

Great Plains Food Bank (GPFB), a Feeding America organization, partnered with Food Works Group (FWG) to solve the food distribution gaps throughout their service region in North Dakota and part of Minnesota. GPFB approached FWG to conduct an immediate evaluation of the operationally-intensive mobile distribution service that was distributing the majority of fresh produce and other perishable items to their service region. The evaluation focused on creating route efficiencies through internal modifications and service enhancements while also identifying where and how agency partner capacity building could replace such mobile distribution. A close examination of distribution route footprints and logistics, layered with internal capacity and external agency capacity, was critical to identify areas for streamlined distribution to better serve North Dakotans. Through stakeholder interviews, agency partner assessments, geospatial mapping, and routing scenario planning, FWG solved for the logistical challenges created by the remote-rural nature of the distribution footprint.