FOUNDATION FOOD
A NORTH WEST FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE
MEETING THE CHALLENGES
Foundation Food is a model designed to revolutionise the provision of grocery store services in the leramagadu (Roebourne) community.
This model seeks to disrupt food insecurity by providing access to a low-cost, high-quality supermarket for locals.
Drawing inspiration from other international models designed to address food insecurity, including 'social supermarkets' and co-operatives, the leramagadu Store Foundation Food is an innovative project, currently in its pilot phase.
Designed for the unique remote Australian context, this model will allow local community members consistent access to cheap groceries where previously they have had limited access due to cost, transport issues and inconsistent supply.
UP TO 36% OF AUSTRALIANS EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY*
*REGIONAL WEST AUSTRALIANS ARE A THIRD MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY THAN THOSE LIVING IN METROPOLITAN AREAS.
WHY WAS ROEBOURNE THE IDEAL PILOT SITE?
CURRENT MODELS DON'T WORK
WE NEED TO
FLIP THE SCRIPT
1.
UNRELIABLE & INACCESSIBLE
The situation faced by the Roebourne community demonstrates that commercial grocery stores are not always a reliable or accessible food source in remote areas.
2.
HEAVILY INFLATED PRICES
In order to generate a profit they often offer low-quality products at heavily inflated prices, which are unaffordable for many customers.
3.
NO DIGNITY OF CHOICE
In Australia efforts to address food insecurity are largely met by the charitable food system and demand on these services to provide emergency food relief is growing. These services can make people feel disempowered, ashamed and offer no dignity of choice when it comes to selecting foods for their family.
AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO FOOD SECURITY
FOUNDATION FOOD HAS ADAPTED AND INNOVATED THE TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY STORE MODEL FOR A REMOTE AUSTRALIAN CONTEXT.
A NOT FOR PROFIT SUPERMARKET
Put simply our model is a not-for-profit supermarket that is stocked using products sourced at low or no cost from partner suppliers, allowing the cost saving to be passed along to community members who may not otherwise be able to afford sufficient quantities of groceries.
We have drawn on the principles of social supermarkets and cooperatives to create a model uniquely designed for a remote Australian context.
Membership is offered to local community members and their visiting family.
The populations of the communities we anticipate Foundation Food working in are predominantly Aboriginal and data shows that a high proportion of these community members experience food stress and insecurity.
This approach to membership allows those who most need it access to low cost groceries, without requiring them to ‘demonstrate poverty’ (an inherently shaming process) in order to access the store’s discounts.
The model is culturally considered in that it also easily accommodates extended kinship links and cultural travel practices.
