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Success Story July 20, 2026
How TopBox Foods Achieved 3x Delivery Growth with Zero Extra Headcount
Topbox Foods is a Chicago-based non-profit whose mission is to create access to healthy foods by executing home grocery delivery programs. Because many participants depend on these deliveries for 100% of their weekly nutrition, there is absolutely zero room for operational error.
However, as a resource-strapped non-profit, the organization was running on manual, “old-school” processes and spreadsheets. When massive new program opportunities arose mid-project, their delivery demands skyrocketed from 5,000 to over 20,000 monthly deliveries. Without automated systems to support this 3x volume surge, the small team had to scale through pure manual labor. The operational bottleneck became so severe that the TopBox team had to step out of the office to personally make 1,000 home deliveries just to keep up.
Picking the right partner wasn’t a back-office decision for us. It was mission critical. As a non-profit, every dollar and every hour we spend is one we’re not using to put healthy, fresh food in someone’s home.
Anthony Bronzo, Director of Finance.
The LIDD Strategy: An Operations-First NetSuite Implementation
TopBox Foods decided to migrate to Oracle NetSuite, evaluating upwards of 20 different systems. However, NetSuite is traditionally recognized as a financial platform, and TopBox Foods needed a solution centered entirely on complex frontline operations rather than back-office accounting.
They partnered with LIDD to leverage the firm’s deep expertise in NetSuite Consulting & Implementation Services and specialized food logistics knowledge. Rather than deploying a generic playbook, the LIDD implementation team worked closely with TopBox Foods to design a heavily customized platform.
Key elements of LIDD’s strategic approach included:
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Custom Delivery Management: Adding specialized IP to seamlessly manage highly nuanced delivery routes, order contents, and specific delivery details.
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Granular Participant Routing: Building systems to track unique profiles, specific delivery cadences, and distinct dietary rules (such as ensuring a household receives whole milk vs. 1% milk) across more than 20,000 participants.
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Proactive Process Improvements: Actively studying TopBox Foods’ warehouse flows to introduce logical, practical operational enhancements the customer hadn’t even thought to ask for.
The Results: Radical Efficiency and Immediate Scale
The collaborative approach resulted in a highly successful, customer-focused implementation that was delivered right on budget. Although the go-live date slipped by about a month due to internal bottlenecks on the TopBox Foods side, LIDD adjusted to the shifting timeline without missing a beat.
The impact of the new system was immediate:
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Massive Delivery Growth: In the first 30 days alone after the new system went live, TopBox Foods successfully served 18,912 households.
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Decreased Overhead and Headcount: TopBox Foods achieved a 17% increase in deliveries right out of the gate while operating with less headcount and lower overall overhead costs than when they started.
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One-Click Financials: Instead of tireless Excel work, the finance team can now run true reforecasts and close month-end books instantly at the click of a button.
The lead team had taken enough time that, hey, this isn’t just a quick fix solution. This is for you to scale… It’s working as it’s supposed to and far better than we ever could have imagined.
Positioned for Future Growth: Driving Sustained Community Impact
By transitioning from manual workflows to a highly automated architecture, TopBox Foods has successfully future-proofed its infrastructure to handle rapid distribution expansion.
The system has already proven its ability to handle sudden scaling. Shortly after go-live, a massive new cohort for their Mather program launched, instantly increasing volumes by 30% (adding 3,000 deliveries). The entire expansion rolled out seamlessly, requiring zero additional changes to the system and zero new hires.
Furthermore, the implementation has transformed the organization’s internal culture by decentralizing daily decision-making. NetSuite has fully empowered the frontline staff to run complex cohorts and manage logistics independently. By removing the executive team from midnight troubleshooting and daily “finagling,” leadership can now focus entirely on high-level Supply Chain Strategy & Logistics Optimization.
Ultimately, every ounce of operational efficiency gained directly fuels TopBox Foods’ core mission. Because they can now scale without the barrier of slow, costly manual labor, the organization is perfectly positioned to maximize every budget dollar and expand its reach to thousands of new families across the Greater Chicago area.
Want to unlock the same level of scalability and operational clarity in your distribution network? Explore LIDD’s Food & Beverage Supply Chain Solutions.
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