Unveiling the influence of the extended online-to-offline food delivery service environment on urban residents' usage: A case study of Nanjing, China

Abstract

Online-to-offline food delivery services (OFDS) platforms have reshaped the urban food landscape. However, existing studies do not reveal the relationship between the changes in the food environment under the influence of OFDS and residents' usage of OFDS. This study considers the impact of OFDS on the food environment and innovatively introduces the concept of extended OFDS food environment (OFDS-FE). Unlike traditional food environments that offer physical dining options within a limited walking distance, the OFDS-FE refers to the food environment formed by different types of restaurants that rely on OFDS platforms to provide online services within the delivery area. Combining questionnaire survey data and Meituan takeaway restaurant data in Nanjing, China, the empirical results suggest that higher online restaurant density, lower road network density, and lower online restaurant accessibility within the extended area are associated with higher OFDS usage by residents. These findings highlight the significance of OFDS-FE in explaining residents' use of OFDS, providing a new perspective for understanding the relationship between the food environment and residents' dining behaviors. These results also shed light on urban planning and design.