Spesa dal Contadino
Online marketplace for small-scale farmers and food artisans
Description
“Spesa dal Contadino” or “Shop dal Contadino” is an online marketplace dedicated to the marketing of the produce of small-scale farmers and food artisans in the Italian territory, although the export of goods to Germany is also possible. Spesa dal Contadino is also host to a list of rural recipes, a newsletter and many inputs, and has developed into a vibrant online community connected through social media.
Technology
The online “Shop dal Contadino” marketplace serves as a digital window from where small-scale farmers and food artisans can sell their products directly to the final consumers. The online platform hosts a catalogue of products with several filter options, and is integrated with such e-payment systems as PayPal, Amazon Pay and Satipay. Users can access the platform via a WhatsApp API chatbot accessed from the main website. The online marketplace is connected to an online community via several social media platforms, namely Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Telegram and WhatsApp.
Target
The primary users of this online marketplace are small-scale farmers and food artisans, and the end consumers of the products, while indirect users include the “Shop dal Contadino” company itself, the e-payment service providers and the delivery companies. Users must register and log-in to the system to complete a transaction, although access to the catalogue of products is free.
Business model
Shop dal Contadino is an online marketplace that operates through commissions paid by the final consumer for each purchase made through the platform, as a percentage share of the product price, fixed under a case-by-case agreement between the platform and the food seller. Transportation costs are covered by the final consumer.
Impact
As of 2024, 77 small-scale farmers and food artisans have registered on the systems and are selling their products through the online marketplace. The website does not mention the total transactions completed to date or the annual turnover. Certain types of online marketplace – if designed responsibly and fairly for the benefit of both the farmers and consumers – can expand traditional selling channels and facilitate transactions among food actors, and can serve as new sources of revenue for rural communities.
Partners
Poste italiane; TNT; UPS; SDA
Four Betters
Better production
