There is increased attention and funding to policies that can increase the presence of supermarkets in lower-income, ethnically diverse neighborhoods. While having access to a wide variety of foods is a basic human right, little is known about what purchases are made in supermarkets in these areas and the factors that influence them. The aims of this research are to: 1) establish a data sharing mechanism with a supermarket chain in Philadelphia to identify where profit-neutral substitutions (healthier for less healthy) could be made; 2) conduct interviews with retailers to assess the feasibility of marketing specific healthier product substitutions among lower-income ethnically diverse shoppers; and 3) develop and evaluate marketing strategies to increase the purchase of healthier products. Investigators will compare, for each of three product categories, sales of healthier products in an intervention and comparison store.
Start Date: November 2010
ID #: 68237
Principal Investigator: Gary Foster, PhD
Organization: Temple University
Funding Round: Round 5
Age Groups: Adolescents (grades 9 to 12), Adults and Families, Elementary-age children (grades K to 5), Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5), Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)
Race/Ethnicity: African American or Black, Multi-racial/ethnic
Keywords: Community setting, Food outlet, In-store marketing, Neighborhood, Point-of-decision prompts, Supermarket, Urban
Focus Areas: Food Access, Food Marketing, Pricing & Economics
Resource Type: Grant Summary
State: Pennsylvania
Related Research
May 2025
Implementation Insights and Equity: Considerations for Summer EBT in 2024
In 2024, the US Department of Agriculture introduced a new federal nutrition initiative, the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program—also known as SUN Bucks. This program offers grocery benefits to low-income families with children during the summer months to help address gaps in summer food assistance. In 2024, 37 states, all 5 US territories, and MoreFebruary 2025
More States and Sponsors Are Providing Grab-and-Go Meals to Children during Summer
In 2023, to respond to increased rates of child food insecurity during the summer Congress authorized states to opt in to allowing noncongregate, or “grab-and-go,” summer meal services for students in rural areas. In the summer of 2023, 46 states and DC opted in, and in the summer of 2024 all 50 states and DC MoreJanuary 2025