Market Run: A New Way to Shop Specialty Food Source

A while back, my son and I were playing with AI. We developed a game called Ninja Chicken, using AI and his artwork to create a dynamic, first-player, Mario-style video game. It spurred an idea in me.

Ninja Chicken: my son's artwork, where this all started.

Through several iterations of playing around, I thought it could be really fun to go shopping and explore our store in a way that wasn't just scrolling through pages of product. We wanted to add a bit of a fun feel and include my friend Peter from here at JN Kidds and Specialty Food Source, who you often see on our social media telling me horrible dad jokes.

All that being said, this is just something fun and new, and a different way for you to be able to shop. I am sure there are bugs and issues within it that we are not aware of, and we'd love to get the feedback. We'd also love to share with you version 1, a web-based game that can make Specialty Food Source an even more fun way to shop.

Play Market Run

What is Market Run?

Market Run is a first-person shopping game that runs in your web browser, on a phone or a desktop. You push a cart through a market hall and step into 21 shops. There is nothing to download and no account to create.

What is inside

• 21 shops under one roof. A Pizzeria with a wood-fired oven, a Gelateria, a Bread Bakery, a Chocolaterie, a Cocktail Bar, Tokyo Alley and more. Each one has its own look, kitchen and shelves.
• A shop for every kind of business. Every business type in our Shop by Business section has its own shop in the game.
• Tap a dish, get the list. Each kitchen has classic dishes on the counter. Tap one and it shows the products that make it.
• A real cart. Everything on the shelves is a real product from our catalog, and your cart checks out here at Specialty Food Source.

Meet Peter

About thirty seconds in, Peter from Johnson Food Products walks up and introduces himself. Then he follows you around telling food dad jokes. Tap him to give him a cookie and he will jump, dance and tell you another one. After two or three cookies he usually leaves you be. You can always find him in the Johnson Food Products shop.

How to play

1. Open Market Run on your phone or computer.
2. Pick your shopper and tap Let's get shopping.
3. Use the arrows to roll the cart, or tap the compass to jump to any shop.
4. Tap a product to see it and add it to your cart.
5. Check out when you are ready.

To keep it one tap away, the Market Run page has a Save to desktop button, and on a phone you can add it to your home screen.

Just want to order?

If you would rather skip the game, our web ordering app is the simple way to shop: search, tap, add to cart and check out.

Tell us what you think

This is version 1. If you find a bug, or there is a shop you want to see, text us or email support@specialtyfoodsource.com.

Please check it out and throw a couple cookies at Peter if you want to make him jump. And stop telling you dad jokes. I wish I was joking.

Justin Cherman
Culinary Imagineer, Specialty Food Source