Open Food Network Case Study

Where we came in

We partnered with the Food Data Consortium to build an open source server that would act as a bridge between Shopify and the FDC Connector. The solution leveraged the Shopify API, Shopify Functions, and OIDC authentication to facilitate a secure and efficient communication between the two systems.

Unlike our usual projects, this project had a lighter discovery phase due to its strong backend and API focus. We knew from the start that we’d need to embrace an agile approach, iterating quickly as new challenges emerged. So we jumped right in, towards our first milestone: building a functional proof of concept.

Learn more about the collaboration here

What we delivered

Proof of concept

To lay the foundations we defined key user personas, mapped out essential user journeys, and then got straight to development. The scope of the very first iteration was to ensure it would authenticate with both FDC and Shopify, sync stock levels, create a “translation API”to import / export Shopify products into the DFC standardised ontology, confirm availability at checkout, and send / receive orders via the DFC connector.

This version was built with developers in mind - a "from techies for techies" approach that validated core functionality.

Production ready

Once we established feasibility, the next step was making the app production ready. We migrated to a Postgres database, introduced a user-friendly visual interface for account management, and further developed the product and order APIs. As we refined our system, the DFC Connector was evolving alongside it, requiring continuous adaptation and integration.

Shopify sprint: bringing UI to life and the first pilot

With the backend in place, it was time to introduce a UI layer to support user interactions. We revisited our personas and user journeys to ensure that producers and hubs could efficiently manage their workflows.

Producers gained the ability to:

• Select which products to sell through the Open Food Network
• Map wholesale and retail variants
• Receive orders from hubs

Hubs could now:

• Manage sales sessions
• Enable/disable partially sold cases
• Select products from producers to sell
• Set retail prices

With these improvements in place, we were ready to run our first pilot with an Open Food Network producer.

Product improvements and the second pilot

The first pilot provided valuable insights, helping us identify gaps and prioritize features for the next iteration.

We focused on improving the producer experience by:

• Adding search and filtering functionality for FDC product lists
• Enabling producers to sell products without wholesale-retail mapping
• Refining the logic for draft orders from hubs

With these enhancements, we launched the second pilot with another producer, gaining further validation.

Future developments

This product is still in its early stages, but the journey so far has been invaluable. Learning about Shopify, OIDC and how the Food Data Consortium operates has deepened our understanding of the challenges and opportunities in this space.

There is still a long roadmap ahead to improve the product, both from a technical and user perspective. But one thing is clear: this work has the potential to drive real change. We believe this tool can contribute meaningfully to a fairer, more sustainable, and more resilient food system. The FDC’s vision aligns with our own, and we are excited to see the impact that this product will bring.

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Impact

This project wasn’t just about building software, it was about creating infrastructure for a more transparent and cooperative food ecosystem.

🚀 Empowering local food networks

By bridging Shopify with the DFC Connector, we’ve enabled small-scale producers and food hubs to access a broader market while maintaining control over their supply chains. This integration simplifies order management, stock updates, and pricing adjustments, reducing operational overhead for producers.

🔄 Seamless data interoperability

Through OIDC authentication and standardised APIs, we ensured that data could flow securely and efficiently between platforms. This means producers and hubs can focus on their business, not on navigating fragmented systems.

📈 A foundation for future growth

While the app is still evolving, its open-source nature ensures that other organisations can build upon it. The flexibility of the solution means it can adapt to new use cases, support additional platforms, and continue driving impact for years to come.

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Our unique value

This project demanded a truly iterative approach - more so than our typical projects.

Close, daily collaboration with the client was essential to refining details, resolving unexpected blockers, and ensuring that every decision delivered value to our end users.

Software development is always an evolving process, but what made this project a success was the combination of our developers' expertise and the deep trust and collaboration we built with the Food Data Consortium. This synergy allowed us to navigate complexity and create something meaningful - together.