Shared buying power.
Coordinate orders among independent grocers to evaluate larger-volume purchasing and product availability.
Our Work / Featured InitiativeNorth Central Regional
Velva, North Dakota · Initiative in development
North Central Regional
Grocery & Local Food Hub.
Supporting a regional effort to strengthen independent grocers, connect local producers with markets, and develop a practical model for rural food distribution.
- Location
- Velva, North Dakota
- Status
- In development
- Our contribution
- Relationships, operations & project coordination
Photo: NDAREC / Kennedy DeLap
The Opportunity
A local grocery store is part of a community’s everyday life.
For rural grocers, purchasing and delivery constraints can make that essential service difficult to sustain. Smaller orders, limited product options, and long distribution distances put pressure on store operations.
The North Central Regional Grocery & Local Food Hub Initiative is developing a shared approach: combine purchasing, coordinate distribution, and create a regional connection between independent grocery stores and locally produced food.
Smaller orders and long delivery distances put pressure on rural grocery stores. The initiative is developing shared purchasing and distribution.
The Intended Model
Buy together.
Connect locally.
Distribute practically.
The planned hub in the former Dot’s Pretzels facility in Velva would bring conventional groceries and local foods into a shared storage and redistribution system.
A regional connection.
Bring grocery products and locally produced foods together for storage, order coordination, and redistribution.
Orders that fit each store.
Develop ways to distribute combined purchases in quantities suited to participating rural stores.
These are intended functions of the developing initiative. Benefits depend on the final operating model and implementation.
Vedaa Consulting’s Role
Close to the stores.
Close to the work.
Shawn’s independent grocery experience and Shad’s marketing and operational background inform our practical development support.
Grocery & distributor relationships
Work with grocers, distributors, and community partners to evaluate purchasing and distribution opportunities.
Operational coordination
Help connect priorities, supplier conversations, and next steps as the regional model takes shape.
Practical development support
Support food-hub planning alongside the sponsoring organizations and other project partners, with an emphasis on operating realities.
Documented Progress
From a shared idea
to a place to build.
Planning gains momentum.
Public coverage described grocer interest, producer subcommittees, and work toward acquiring a donated facility in Velva.
The future hub opens its doors to the community.
An announcement and open house recognized Dot and Randy Henke’s donation of the former Dot’s Pretzels facility for the initiative.
Developing the operating model.
Our work continues around purchasing, relationships, and operational coordination as the initiative develops.
The initiative is led by the Rural Development Finance Corporation, with support from NDAREC’s Rural Development Center and the North Dakota Rural Electric Cooperatives Foundation. The broader initiative is supported by a $12.6 million private foundation grant commitment from the Bush Foundation, including facility renovation and other project costs.
Independent Coverage
The project,
in the news.
Independent reporting on the initiative, the people behind it, and what it could mean for rural communities.
Video interviewRegional food hub in Velva to help rural grocers, growers
A television report with Shawn Vedaa and local grower Quinn Renfandt on the hub’s goals for rural stores and producers.
Watch the report & read the story
Former Dot’s Pretzels facility to become regional food hub
The facility donation, community open house, and organizations supporting the regional initiative.
Read the story
Velva building to help launch food hub
Local reporting on the donated Velva facility and plans for the regional food hub.
Subscription may be requiredRead the story
‘We have to be BOLD’
An in-depth look at the purchasing model, local-food opportunities, and Shawn’s role as the project’s lead consultant.
Read the story
The small-town hug of a small-town store
A closer look at Velva Fresh Foods and why a community grocery store matters to the people it serves.
Read the storyLet’s Talk
Let’s talk about
what you’re
working on.Let’s talk about
your next step.
Tell us about your organization, community initiative, or business challenge and where you could use support. We’ll start with a conversation.Tell us about your project or business and the support you need.
Start a conversation
Shad Vedaa
Co-Owner & Marketing & Operations Lead
shad@vedaaconsulting.co(701) 537-4555