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
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