KBHFF
KBHFF (Københavns Fødevarefællesskab) is a member-run food cooperative in Copenhagen, where members share the work of ordering, sorting, and distributing produce at scheduled pickups.
Nicholas Steinkamp · MSc Service Systems Design, Aalborg University · Dec 2025
The Brief
How can KBHFF be redesigned to address younger members' needs, attract more of them, and keep them engaged long-term?
The Problem
KBHFF's synchronized, time-sensitive logistics make it inflexible for young members, create a barrier to entry for prospective members, and drive attrition among existing ones.
Research Findings
We conducted a survey within the target demographic in Copenhagen, distributing the survey to bars, university social spaces, and community centers. We garnered 72 responses.
82%
chose their grocery store by proximity to home
8%
felt loyalty to a single store or chain
4.1
average score for produce quality (out of 5)
4
2%
of missed pickups caused by timing conflicts alone
Featured Tool: The 3 Filter Framework
Information Filter- Storyboarding
A low-fidelity storytelling approach to find tension points in a service activity, addressing the theme of Confusion.
Revealed a "Cognitive Gap": without a volunteer present, members had no nudge to complete pickup verification.
Spatial Filter- Service Origami Walkthrough
An online simulation based on Kitchen Collective's blueprints, co-designing the service experience and logistics without financial constraints.
A "Space Conflict" emerged: the grab-and-go model failed without a packing surface; both participants needed a table.
Social Filter- Co-Design Survey
Targeted research to validate Commitment and Value Proposition; whether social trust within KBHFF could support an open-shelf model over a locked cabinet.
No responses received. The open-shelf trust assumption remains unvalidated before a pilot.
The Solution: A Community Pantry
A self-service late-pickup add-on that decouples KBHFF's rigid distribution model from fixed pickup hours. Partnering with Kitchen Collective extends the window from 17:00–19:00 to 17:00–22:00, without added volunteer labor.
Addressing Commitment
Autonomous Flexibility
A self-service model that fosters flexibility. Members scan a QR code to confirm pickup, independent of the synchronized schedule.
Addressing Value Proposition
Symbiotic Infrastructure
Replaces the need for new depots by using the host's space, electricity, and security, while KBHFF brings foot traffic and community relevance.
Addressing Confusion
The Packing Ritual
A three-step guide, QR confirmation, and packing station shift the burden from memory to environment.
MVP Scope : A pilot at a single late-closing branch, funded by a 40 DKK/month add-on — self-sustaining from launch.