Dotfive and Hewlett-Packard have worked closely together for many years, covering areas from software development through to training and consultancy, in the UK and internationally.

In 2007, Hewlett-Packard approached us with the request to build a social networking website that had a novel business model. They had teamed up with Applewood Books, a major US publisher, to define a print-on-demand system which would depend on building an active online community.

• Design and create a new user friendly online community, from scratch
• Consult with HP/Applewood Books on best web practises, technologies and methodologies
• Develop and implement a state of the art e-commerce shopping system and payment gateway
• Develop an online e-book reader to allow customers to view publications without printing them
• Ensure that all technical constraints could be overcome within budget

Foodsville, as the site was called, is targeted at lovers of cooking and good food. The ambition was to provide facilities for members to add articles and recipes, which people could then pay to print. Essentially, a new way of putting together your own recipe book of all your favourite dishes, aided by the collective collaboration of others.

In addition, the website features a large selection of books, which can be read online through a custom reader that we developed, or be purchased through the site in printed form.

The project spanned over a year of continuous development, and incorporated a large number of sophisticated features.

Hewlett-Packard has a practice of funding R&D projects which then, if successful, can get spun off into separate companies in their own right, still owned by HP. They have spawned a large number of products and companies in this way, and Foodsville is no exception. Despite going live just before the credit crunch, the site is doing well and the project has proved worthwhile.

• HP now owns a truly unique, global business that is growing continuously
• Foodsville is both profitable and easy to manage
• Active membership of more than 4,000 people
• The website is stable and safe to use for consumers