Comparative Analysis of Independent Food Delivery Platforms: Empowering Food Movement Values

Food insecurity remains a persistent issue in the United States, affecting approximately 10-15% of households, with marginalized communities disproportionately impacted.Food security focuses on ensuring consistent access to adequate and nutritious food.In contrast, the food movement, which encompasses principles of food justice and food sovereignty, addresses these disparities by advocating for equitable access to healthy food and empowering communities to shape their food systems.Our study investigates how independent food delivery platforms (indie) align with food movement values by selecting and analyzing a random sample of 50 US-based platforms out of a total pool of 489.Our findings reveal that while many platforms demonstrate strong alignment with food security principles, particularly in terms of accessibility and nutritional quality, significant gaps remain in anti-racist practices, community control, and sustainability efforts.We offer design recommendations and policy insights to help indie platforms promote equity, inclusivity, and sustainability, ultimately advancing more equitable food systems and addressing systemic challenges in food insecurity.