Food Cost Visualizer and Planner

Closed
Food Trucks Association of Canada
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Mackenzie P
Project Manager
(14)
4
Project
Academic experience
120 hours per Student
Student
Anywhere
Intermediate level

Project scope

Categories
Data analysis Data modelling Financial modeling Information technology
Skills
algorithms real time data data security data visualization wholesaling forecasting agriculture
Details

The primary objective of this project is to develop a comprehensive Food Cost Visualizer and Planner for Food Trucks, enabling them to effectively plan their menus and manage food costs during their operating season. Students will work with multiple data sets, including open data sources from Statistics Canada (Wholesale food pricing, Consumer Trends, Consumer Price Index), as well as data from Agriculture Boards. The Association will assist in obtaining data feeds for various datasets from the government where possible. 

NOTE: The use of data scrapers to fetch data in the final product is prohibited.


Deliverables

By the end of the project, students should:

  1. Collect and integrate relevant data from multiple sources, including Statistics Canada and Agriculture Boards.
  2. Create a user-friendly visualizer tool that allows food truck operators to input menu items and estimate costs.
  3. Develop algorithms to calculate food costs based on ingredient prices and consumer trends.
  4. Implement data visualization components to help food truck operators analyze cost fluctuations.
  5. Provide a user guide explaining how to use the tool effectively.


Bonus steps in the process may include:

  1. Incorporating real-time data updates.
  2. Adding features for forecasting food costs.
  3. Implementing data security measures


Final deliverables should include:

  1. A fully functional Food Cost Visualizer and Planner.
  2. Documentation detailing the data sources, algorithms, and methodologies used.
  3. User guide and instructions for food truck operators.
  4. A 10-minute presentation showcasing the tool's capabilities and benefits.


Mentorship

Students will receive guidance and support throughout the project, including:

  • Assistance in accessing and understanding multiple data sets.
  • Technical support for data integration and tool development.
  • Clarifications on project requirements and goals.
  • Recommendations on additional features and improvements.
  • Clear communication channels for students to raise any concerns or ask questions throughout the project.
  • Regularly scheduled check-in meetings to support students


About the company

Company
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
2 - 10 employees
Food & beverage, Non-profit, philanthropic & civil society

The Food Trucks Association of Canada (FTAC) is a national, nonprofit organization which was first registered in Canada in the late summer of 2020, in the earlier period of onset of the pandemic.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/45-28-0001/2021001/article/00010-eng.htm

An agile approach has been taken and we are now looking to redefine how we can best start and grow to support the industry. It is critically important to us to provide real and lasting value to our members.

Projects that are taken on by students and courses in the Riipen platform will be instrumental in our ability to build capacity to deliver that value.
To date, the work of the Food Trucks Association of Canada has been led by a volunteer Executive Director who is a passionate advocate in this space, and has leveraged a 75% student body of employees made available through various employment subsidies. It is a key part of our mandate to support student learning.

The NAICS code for the Food Trucks is 7223 and other code subsets.