How a Pod works
EqualEats is built to handle the entire lifecycle of a community bulk order, taking the heavy lifting off the Pod admin's shoulders. Here is the week-by-week cycle.
1. The Batch Opens
The Hub Admin opens a new Batch. Members are notified and log in using their secure community passcode. They browse the catalogue—curated specifically for the village—and start filling their baskets.
2. Pooling & Solidarity
As orders come in, the live Community Progress Bar tracks how close we are to hitting our wholesale supplier minimums. During checkout, members can opt to round up their order with a tip to the Solidarity Pot, or subsidize gaps via the Ballast Fund.
3. The Countdown Locks
When the countdown timer hits zero, the Batch locks. The system calculates exactly what cases need rounding up from the Ballast Fund, finalizes the order sheet, and preps it for the supplier (e.g. Suma).
4. Delivery & Distribution
The wholesale delivery arrives at the local village hall or hub acting as the physical drop point. The app gives the hub leader a perfectly calculated Packing List to group bulk goods into individual family boxes for simple collection.