Examining changes to food and beverage availability and marketing in a low-income community after the opening of a new supermarket

Abstract

Objective: In 2016, a Whole Foods Market© opened in the Englewood community of Chicago, IL – a predominately low-income African American community. This study aimed to examine changes to food and beverage availability and marketing in Englewood’s existing food stores after the opening of this supermarket. Design: Quasi-experimental study. Setting: Two low-income African American communities in Chicago, IL. Participants: Fieldworkers audited all small grocery and limited-service stores (e.g., convenience stores, liquor stores, dollar/discount stores) located within one-square mile of the new supermarket and a one-square mile area of a demographically comparable community that also lacked a supermarket. Stores were audited before (2016) and after (2017 and 2018) the supermarket opened. Results: Of the 78 stores audited at baseline, 71.8% were limited-service stores and 85.9% accepted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Overall, the availability of healthy food and beverage options in nearby small stores was low at baseline and both follow-up periods. Difference-in-Difference regression models revealed a significant increase in 1) the percentage of stores in the intervention community (i.e., Englewood) offering regular cheese and promoting salty snacks at check-out from 2016 – 2017 and 2) the percentage of stores in the comparison community with interior store promotions for other sweetened beverages from 2016 – 2018. Conclusions: Minimal changes in food and beverage availability and marketing occurred one and two years after the opening of a new supermarket. However, the wide range of staple food items offered by the supermarket expanded healthy food retail in Chicago’s Englewood community.

Food Insecurity, Neighborhood Food Environment, and Health Disparities: State of the Science, Research Gaps and Opportunities

“…The study found positive effects of the supermarket intervention on dietary quality, average daily intakes of kilocalories and added sugars, and percentage of kilocalories from solid fats, added sugars, and alcohol; however, there were no changes in average BMI, consumption of fruit and vegetables, or consumption of whole grains [ 69 ]. Another evaluation of the HFFI in the Englewood community in Chicago, IL, found that a new supermarket did not improve the healthfulness of foods sold in nearby stores and minimal changes in the availability of healthy food and beverage and marketing 1–2 y after the new store opened [ 76 ]. However, there was evidence that the wide range of staple food items offered by the supermarket expanded healthy food retail in the neighborhood [ 76 ].…”

“…Another evaluation of the HFFI in the Englewood community in Chicago, IL, found that a new supermarket did not improve the healthfulness of foods sold in nearby stores and minimal changes in the availability of healthy food and beverage and marketing 1–2 y after the new store opened [ 76 ]. However, there was evidence that the wide range of staple food items offered by the supermarket expanded healthy food retail in the neighborhood [ 76 ]. Overall, the complexity of trying to build new food stores is an important observation from these studies and demonstrates the key consideration of other factors that influence dietary behaviors beyond supermarket access.…”

Bile Acids, Gut Microbes, and the Neighborhood Food Environment—a Potential Driver of Colorectal Cancer Health Disparities

“…There is considerable evidence that U.S. areas of low SES have a lower density of full-service supermarkets ( 95 – 98 ) and that communities predominately comprised of AA/B individuals were 1.1 miles further, on average, from the nearest full-service supermarket than communities comprised primarily of NHWs ( 95 ). Lower SES neighborhoods are commonly predominated by smaller food outlets like convenience stores and bodegas, which have fewer foods in general and fewer healthier options ( 99 , 100 ). Indeed, a study in 8,462 food stores across 46 states observed that very low-income AA/B and Hispanic communities had a lower ratio of healthful options (e.g., wheat versus white bread) in food stores compared with very high-income NHW communities (ratio of 0.60 and 0.74, respectively) ( 101 ).…”