IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i20p13165-d941654.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Procedure for an Effective Quick and Targeted Distribution of Product to Final Beneficiaries by a Social Food Bank

Author

Listed:
  • Marc Juanpera

    (Institute of Industrial and Control Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
    Department of Management, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Judit M. Fernández-Novell

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Albert Soler-Noguera

    (El Rebost. Xarxa d’Entitats de Distribució Social d’Aliments de Terrassa, Creu Roja a Terrassa, 08224 Terrassa, Spain)

  • Maria Antonia De los Santos

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Daniel Carpintero

    (Department of Management, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Laia Ferrer-Martí

    (Institute of Industrial and Control Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Rafael Pastor

    (Institute of Industrial and Control Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
    Department of Management, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Humanitarian food banks throughout Europe periodically deliver baskets of food products to vulnerable families. These entities occasionally receive large, unexpected quantities of perishable products, sometimes very specific (e.g., gluten-free, vegan), to be distributed urgently. The highly random nature of these arrivals has hindered their study in literature. The purpose of this work is to define a procedure for an effective, quick and targeted distribution to beneficiaries, of large quantities of sometimes very specific perishable products. The research methodology starts with an in-depth on-site analysis of a real food bank, interviews with managers and beneficiaries, and definition of the procedure requirements. Next, the procedure is designed, defining how to select the appropriate beneficiaries for the targeted distribution, using free and common-use tools to announce the product distribution and allow the collection request by interested beneficiaries. It is technically easy to use, taking into account that food banks’ workforce is composed mainly of volunteers, with a high turnover. Training material is prepared for volunteers and beneficiaries to overcome the digital gap. The procedure is validated with the network of small food banks El Rebost, from Terrassa (Spain): 129 lots of food products have been successfully delivered to targeted beneficiaries.

Suggested Citation

  • Marc Juanpera & Judit M. Fernández-Novell & Albert Soler-Noguera & Maria Antonia De los Santos & Daniel Carpintero & Laia Ferrer-Martí & Rafael Pastor, 2022. "Procedure for an Effective Quick and Targeted Distribution of Product to Final Beneficiaries by a Social Food Bank," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:20:p:13165-:d:941654
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/20/13165/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/20/13165/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Azzurra Annunziata & Massimiliano Agovino & Aniello Ferraro & Angela Mariani, 2020. "Household Food Waste: A Case Study in Southern Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Senay Solak & Christina Scherrer & Ahmed Ghoniem, 2014. "The stop-and-drop problem in nonprofit food distribution networks," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 221(1), pages 407-426, October.
    3. Elena Grimaccia & Alessia Naccarato, 2022. "Food Insecurity in Europe: A Gender Perspective," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 161(2), pages 649-667, June.
    4. Tracey Kathleen Burke & Amanda K. Walch & Kiana Holland & Brynn Byam & David Reamer, 2021. "Strategizing Dinner: How American Pantry Users Think about Feeding Their Families with Limited Resources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Sengul Orgut, Irem & Ivy, Julie S. & Uzsoy, Reha & Hale, Charlie, 2018. "Robust optimization approaches for the equitable and effective distribution of donated food," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 269(2), pages 516-531.
    6. Davis, Lauren B. & Sengul, Irem & Ivy, Julie S. & Brock, Luther G. & Miles, Lastella, 2014. "Scheduling food bank collections and deliveries to ensure food safety and improve access," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 175-188.
    7. Robert W. Lien & Seyed M. R. Iravani & Karen R. Smilowitz, 2014. "Sequential Resource Allocation for Nonprofit Operations," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 62(2), pages 301-317, April.
    8. Johanna Greiss & Bea Cantillon & Sarah Marchal & Tess Penne, 2019. "Europe as agent that fills the gaps? The case of FEAD," Working Papers 1903, Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp.
    9. Mohan, S. & Gopalakrishnan, M. & Mizzi, P.J., 2013. "Improving the efficiency of a non-profit supply chain for the food insecure," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(2), pages 248-255.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mahmoudi, Monirehalsadat & Shirzad, Khadijeh & Verter, Vedat, 2022. "Decision support models for managing food aid supply chains: A systematic literature review," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PB).
    2. Akkerman, Renzo & Buisman, Marjolein & Cruijssen, Frans & de Leeuw, Sander & Haijema, Rene, 2023. "Dealing with donations: Supply chain management challenges for food banks," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    3. Reusken, Meike & Cruijssen, Frans & Fleuren, Hein, 2023. "A food bank supply chain model: Optimizing investments to maximize food assistance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    4. Esteban Ogazón & Neale R. Smith & Angel Ruiz, 2022. "Reconfiguration of Foodbank Network Logistics to Cope with a Sudden Disaster," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-20, April.
    5. Lee, Deishin & Sönmez, Erkut & Gómez, Miguel I. & Fan, Xiaoli, 2017. "Combining two wrongs to make two rights: Mitigating food insecurity and food waste through gleaning operations," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 40-52.
    6. Davis, Lauren B. & Jiang, Steven X. & Morgan, Shona D. & Nuamah, Isaac A. & Terry, Jessica R., 2016. "Analysis and prediction of food donation behavior for a domestic hunger relief organization," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 26-37.
    7. Sengul Orgut, Irem & Ivy, Julie S. & Uzsoy, Reha & Hale, Charlie, 2018. "Robust optimization approaches for the equitable and effective distribution of donated food," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 269(2), pages 516-531.
    8. Byrne, Anne T. & Just, David R., 2022. "Review: Private food assistance in high income countries: A guide for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    9. Barιş Ata & Deishin Lee & Erkut Sönmez, 2019. "Dynamic Volunteer Staffing in Multicrop Gleaning Operations," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 67(2), pages 295-314, March.
    10. Alkaabneh, Faisal & Diabat, Ali & Gao, Huaizhu Oliver, 2021. "A unified framework for efficient, effective, and fair resource allocation by food banks using an Approximate Dynamic Programming approach," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    11. Martins, C.L. & Melo, M.T. & Pato, M.V., 2019. "Redesigning a food bank supply chain network in a triple bottom line context," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 234-247.
    12. Martins, C. L. & Melo, Teresa & Pato, Margarida Vaz, 2016. "Redesigning a food bank supply chain network, Part I: Background and mathematical formulation," Technical Reports on Logistics of the Saarland Business School 10, Saarland University of Applied Sciences (htw saar), Saarland Business School.
    13. Ohad Eisenhandler & Michal Tzur, 2019. "The Humanitarian Pickup and Distribution Problem," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 67(1), pages 10-32, January.
    14. Reusken, Meike & Laporte, Gilbert & Rohmer, Sonja U.K. & Cruijssen, Frans, 2024. "Vehicle routing with stochastic demand, service and waiting times — The case of food bank collection problems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 317(1), pages 111-127.
    15. Suárez, Carlos Aníbal & Guaño, Walter A. & Pérez, Cinthia C. & Roa-López, Heydi, 2024. "Multi-objective optimization for perishable product dispatch in a FEFO system for a food bank single warehouse," Operations Research Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 12(C).
    16. Buisman, Marjolein E. & Haijema, Rene & Akkerman, Renzo & Bloemhof, Jacqueline M., 2019. "Donation management for menu planning at soup kitchens," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 272(1), pages 324-338.
    17. Rey, David & Almi’ani, Khaled & Nair, Divya J., 2018. "Exact and heuristic algorithms for finding envy-free allocations in food rescue pickup and delivery logistics," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 19-46.
    18. Jon M. Stauffer & Manoj Vanajakumari & Subodha Kumar & Theresa Mangapora, 2022. "Achieving equitable food security: How can food bank mobile pantries fill this humanitarian need," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(4), pages 1802-1821, April.
    19. Tanzid Hasnain & Irem Sengul Orgut & Julie Simmons Ivy, 2021. "Elicitation of Preference among Multiple Criteria in Food Distribution by Food Banks," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(12), pages 4475-4500, December.
    20. Sanjay L. Ahire & Pelin Pekgün, 2018. "Harvest Hope Food Bank Optimizes Its Promotional Strategy to Raise Donations Using Integer Programming," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 48(4), pages 291-306, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:20:p:13165-:d:941654. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.