Settings-based approaches: grocery retail

It is well known that food retailers shape purchasing decisions through marketing strategies, particularly the ‘four Ps’ of price, promotion, place and product.

There is ample evidence to show settings-based interventions can create supportive environments for healthy food choices especially at the point of purchase such as supermarkets.

This research showed increasing availability of healthier products in supermarkets and placing them in prominent locations (without promoting any health benefits) was linked to increased purchases in a study in low-income, high-minority neighbourhoods. Another study in the UK found that removing confectionery, chocolate and potato chips from checkouts reduced purchases of such foods by 17.3% and this was sustained at a 15.5% reduction after one year.