Liewensmëttelpunkt Nordstad — Producers’ Workshop

Context. 

As part of the Liewensmëttelpunkt Nordstad (LMP) initiative, Everard Consulting facilitated a workshop on 6 May 2024 focused on integrating local producers into a future network of neighbourhood grocery points. The aim was to capture the situation at that time: how to balance accessibility, conviviality, costs and logistics—while bringing producers on board through a simple, fair collaboration model.

Objectives. 

The workshop set out to align on a shared vision for the type(s) of outlet to deploy, compare operational scenarios (autonomous store vs. hosted/animated store), map producers’ needs (deliveries, commercial terms, visibility, information flows), and inform short-term political and technical decisions (location, services, and a “local/regional/seasonal” charter).

Approach. 

We worked in small groups with structured question rounds followed by a plenary synthesis. This light, participatory method surfaced both common ground (accessibility, ease of use, clarity of rules) and the items requiring deliberate trade-offs (operating model, level of automation, who does what in logistics).

What Emerged.

Two complementary trajectories stood out. On one hand, autonomous points of sale that offer extended access beyond standard hours with digital stock monitoring; on the other, a hosted store acting as a place of community life and food education, able to “tell the story” of products and producers. The group recommended clarifying the positioning while keeping open the option of a hybrid rollout by place or by phase. On logistics, the priority is to minimise producer burden: pooled delivery rounds, partnerships with existing logistics actors, automatic low-stock alerts, and—if needed—a small buffer depot. On collaboration, producers asked for transparent rules (purchase vs. consignment, payment terms), phased onboarding (start with a core group, expand gradually) and a charter to keep the offer coherent (definitions of local/regional/seasonal). Finally, the coexistence of similar products from different producers should be handled via a shelf charter: quality and seasonality criteria, fair rotation, and clear consumer information—so choice is encouraged without creating unbalanced competition.

Decisions and Early Implementation. 

The workshop delivered a practical frame to move from concept to testing: pilot site(s), a simple logistics protocol, basic stock-tracking tools, and clear rules for product coexistence and producer visibility. This groundwork enabled quick iterations, on-site learning, and consolidation of choices on model, services and placement.

What Came Next. 

Participants recommended prototyping on one site, measuring both customer experience and the real workload on producers, then adjusting the charter and logistics before any wider rollout. That pragmatic loop—test, measure, adjust—helped pave the way for today’s concrete outcome: the Nordstad shop as it exists now.