Snack displays2/21/2023 Our own recent analysis of shelf-space dedicated to snack food items and soft drinks showed that this did vary between supermarkets from the least and most disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Melbourne. For example, studies from the US have found fewer healthy choices available within-stores in more deprived neighbourhoods. Some research has suggested that supermarket stocking practices and store displays may vary according to the socioeconomic characteristics of the local area in which a store is located. Other displays such as those at the ends of aisles and in island bins may also trigger an impulsive choice prior to reaching the checkout. While prior studies have investigated snack food displays at checkouts, a key in-store location where retailers attempt to sell items likely to be purchased on impulse, these only represent a single point of exposure within supermarkets. That study audited 257 checkouts with 87% and 80% displaying chocolate and other sweets, respectively. The placement of snack foods at checkouts in 24 Melbourne supermarkets has been reported previously. Within supermarkets, snack foods are often displayed near the entrance and at checkouts and promotions associated with such products are likely to be common. A recent audit of a large Melbourne supermarket found 1070 snack food items and 863 different beverages available, over 70% of which were considered inconsistent with a healthy diet. Therefore, the within-store supermarket environment is an important focal point for public health nutrition research. cinemas, transport termini).Īlthough the supermarket represents only one food shopping location, it is present in most urban geographic areas in Australia and is visited frequently by most of the population. pharmacies, gas stations) and at other common amenities (e.g. For instance, snack food can now be purchased in food stores, non-food stores (e.g. These consumption patterns are likely to be influenced by increased opportunities to purchase snack foods. Results of this study could promote awareness of the prominence of unhealthy food items in chain-brand supermarkets outlets.Ĭonsumption of unhealthy (energy-dense, nutrient poor) snack foods has become common-place in recent decades. ConclusionsĪs a result of the high availability of snack food displays, exposure to snack foods is almost unavoidable in Melbourne supermarkets, regardless of levels of neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage. There was no difference in the availability of these snack food displays by neighbourhood disadvantage. Chocolate items were the most common snack food item on display. Snack foods were also present at a number of end-of-aisle displays (at both the front (median 38%) and back (median 33%) of store), and in island bin displays (median number of island displays: 7 median total circumference of island displays: 19.4 metres). Snack food displays were most prominent at checkouts with only five stores not having snack foods at 100% of their checkouts. We measured the availability of crisps, chocolate, confectionery, and soft drinks (diet and regular) at the checkouts, in end-of-aisle displays, and in island bin displays. Supermarkets were sampled from the least and most socioeconomically disadvantaged suburbs within 30 km of the Melbourne CBD. Within-store audits of 35 Melbourne supermarkets. We aimed to examine the availability of snack food displays at checkouts, end-of-aisle displays and island displays in major supermarket chains in the least and most socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Melbourne. Snack food exposures within these stores may contribute to higher levels of consumption and ultimately to increasing levels of obesity, particularly within socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Supermarkets play a major role in influencing the food purchasing behaviours of most households.
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