Healthy Checkout Lines: A Study in Urban Supermarkets

Abstract

ObjectiveTo understand the impact of healthy checkouts in Bronx, New York City supermarkets. DesignConsumer purchasing behavior was observed for 2 weeks in 2015. SettingThree supermarkets in the South Bronx. ParticipantsA total of 2,131 adult shoppers (aged ≥18 years) who paid for their groceries at 1 of the selected study checkout lines. InterventionTwo checkout lines were selected per store; 1 was converted to a healthy checkout and the other remained as it was (standard checkout). Data collectors observed consumer behavior at each line and recorded items purchased from checkout areas. Main Outcome MeasuresPercentage of customers who purchase items from the checkout area; quantity and price of healthy and unhealthy items purchased from the healthy and standard checkout lines. AnalysisMeasures were analyzed by study condition using chi-square and t tests; significance was determined at α = .05. ResultsOnly 4.0% of customers bought anything from the checkout area. A higher proportion of customers using the healthy vs standard checkout line bought healthy items (56.5% vs 20.5%; P < .001). Conclusions and ImplicationsWhen healthier products were available, the proportion of healthy purchases increased. Findings contribute to limited research on effectiveness of healthy checkouts in supermarkets. Similar interventions should expect an increase in healthy purchases from the checkout area, but limited overall impact.