Corner Stores Research Articles

The influence of meal and food markets in fruit and vegetable consumption among adults in the city of São Paulo.

Despite the increased consumption of fruits and vegetables in the Brazilian population, a great proportion of people do not meet the recommendations. Purchasing sites associated with fruit and vegetable consumption has not been widely explored. To explore the association between fruit and vegetable purchasing and consumption sites and the consumption of these foods among adults living in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Cross-sectional study with 2 thousand individuals living in the city of São Paulo, aged between 20 and 59 years, participants of the "Obesogenic Environment Study in São Paulo". The outcome was fruit and vegetable consumption measured by weekly consumption. Exposure variables included purchasing sites (supermarkets, open-air food markets, fruit and vegetable specialized markets, and corner stores) and consumption sites (full service restaurants and fast food restaurants). The sample comprises women (52.3%) aged between 25 and 34 years (30.2%), with at least 8 years of schooling (42.8%) receiving 2 to 5 minimum wages (34.6%). Demographic and socioeconomic variables showed association with regular consumption of fruits and vegetables (p < 0.05). The regular consumption of meals in full service restaurant was associated with vegetables consumption. The regular consumption of meals in fast-food restaurants was not associated with vegetables consumption. Food purchasing sites were not associated with fruit or vegetable consumption. The choice of restaurant type was associated with vegetable consumption. In the studied population, food purchasing sites were not associated with fruit or vegetable consumption.

Breakfast Quality Varies by Location among Low-Income Ethnically Diverse Children in Public Urban Schools

ObjectiveTo evaluate breakfast location and children's food choices. MethodsCross-sectional analysis of 1,371 fourth- through sixth-grade students in 2013. Foods and beverages in 17 categories characterized breakfast choices: (1) ≥ 1 fruits or vegetables, (2) ≥ 1 foods high in saturated fats and added sugars (SFAS), and (3) meeting School Breakfast Program (SBP) requirements. ResultsAmong breakfast eaters (n = 1,133; 82.6%), 46.0% ate at home, 13.1% ate at school, 41.0% ate at multiple locations; and 21.8% ate at a corner store. Those eating at school were more likely to consume ≥1 fruit or vegetable (odds ratio [OR] = 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26–2.87), less likely to eat ≥1 SFAS food (OR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.22–0.94), and more likely to meet SBP requirements (OR = 2.47; 95% CI, 1.42–4.29). Those eating at corner stores (n = 247) were more likely to consume high-SFAS foods (63.9% vs 9.2%; P < .001). Conclusions and ImplicationsEating school breakfast increased the odds of consuming fruit, choosing lower SFAS, and meeting nutritional requirements of the SBP relative to other locations.

Around the Corner to Better Health: A Milwaukee Corner Store Initiative.

To discuss successes and challenges of a collaborative pilot project to increase healthy food availability in corner stores in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Lindsay Heights Healthy Corner Store Initiative aimed to help corner stores sell high-quality produce by increasing supply of healthy foods and funding minor store upgrades to facilitate change. Evaluation research. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Corner stores; youth and adult community members. (1) Supporting businesses in purchasing equipment to stock fresh produce, (2) connecting stores with produce sources, and (3) community outreach and marketing. Partnership capacity, youth engagement in food justice, and community members' usage of corner stores. Qualitative analysis; descriptive statistics. Storeowners reported more sold produce items per week and increased noticeable fresh produce upon entrance into the store. There was increased or improved store redesign, fresh produce signage, in-store cooking demonstrations, and small business development resources. Youth learned about new vegetables, increased kitchen skills and proper food storage, and the effects of obesity on overall health. Similar interventions must address infrastructure costs, cooperation with property owners, and local policies and regulations affecting business practices.

The Impact of a Multi-Level Multi-Component Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention on Healthy Food Availability, Sales, and Purchasing in a Low-Income Urban Area.

The multifactorial causes of obesity require multilevel and multicomponent solutions, but such combined strategies have not been tested to improve the community food environment. We evaluated the impact of a multilevel (operating at different levels of the food environment) multicomponent (interventions occurring at the same level) community intervention. The B’more Healthy Communities for Kids (BHCK) intervention worked at the wholesaler (n = 3), corner store (n = 50), carryout (n = 30), recreation center (n = 28), household (n = 365) levels to improve availability, purchasing, and consumption of healthier foods and beverages (low-sugar, low-fat) in low-income food desert predominantly African American zones in the city of Baltimore (MD, USA), ultimately intending to lead to decreased weight gain in children (not reported in this manuscript). For this paper, we focus on more proximal impacts on the food environment, and measure change in stocking, sales and purchase of promoted foods at the different levels of the food system in 14 intervention neighborhoods, as compared to 14 comparison neighborhoods. Sales of promoted products increased in wholesalers. Stocking of these products improved in corner stores, but not in carryouts, and we did not find any change in total sales. Children more exposed to the intervention increased their frequency of purchase of promoted products, although improvement was not seen for adult caregivers. A multilevel food environment intervention in a low-income urban setting improved aspects of the food system, leading to increased healthy food purchasing behavior in children.

Application of high-throughput pyrosequencing in the analysis of microbiota of food commodities procured from small and large retail outlets in a U.S. metropolitan area – A pilot study

With the advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies, it is possible to comprehensively analyze the microbial community of foods without culturing them in the laboratory. The estimation of all microbes inhabiting a food commodity (food microbiota) therefore may shed light on the microbial quality and safety of foods. In this study, we utilized high-throughput pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes as well as traditional microbiological methods to evaluate the bacterial diversity and the predicted metabolic pathways associated with the bacterial communities of selected foods (romaine lettuce, cabbage, deli meat, and chicken legs, total 200 samples) procured from small and large retail outlets located in Memphis-Shelby County, Tennessee, USA. For high-throughput sequencing, microbial genomic DNA was directly extracted from the food products and subjected to genetic sequencing. Aerobic plate count of all food samples was also performed. Foods from small stores (such as corner stores) were found to contain higher bacterial counts as compared to large stores (such as supermarkets). High-throughput pyrosequencing in tandem with bioinformatics analyses revealed a comprehensive picture of the bacterial ecology of foods at different taxonomic levels. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla across all products. At the genus level, Enterobacter and Pantoea in vegetables, and Bacillus and Aeromonas in animal products were found to be the most abundant. The bacterial predicted metabolic pathways such as inosine-5′-phosphate biosynthesis I, methylglyoxal (MG) degradation pathways, urea cycle, dTDP-l-rhamnose biosynthesis I, and mevalonate pathway I differed in foods procured from small stores as compared to large groceries or supermarkets. The results from this study revealed that the bacterial ecology (both in terms of numbers and types of bacteria) of food commodities might differ based on the vending outlet type (large vs. small) of retail stores. The overall estimation bacterial communities in foods by high-throughput sequencing method may be useful to identify potential taxa responsible for food spoilage. Moreover, the data from pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes can also be applied to infer major metabolic pathways in bacteria inhabiting different foods. This may reflect the role of these pathways in food-bacteria interaction and adaptation.

Baseline Assessment of a Healthy Corner Store Initiative: Associations between Food Store Environments, Shopping Patterns, Customer Purchases, and Dietary Intake in Eastern North Carolina.

In 2016, the North Carolina (NC) Legislature allocated $250,000 to the NC Department of Agriculture, to identify and equip small food retailers to stock healthier foods and beverages in eastern NC food deserts (the NC Healthy Food Small Retailer Program, HFSRP). The purpose of this study was to examine associations between food store environments, shopping patterns, customer purchases, and dietary consumption among corner store customers. We surveyed 479 customers in 16 corner stores regarding demographics, food purchased, shopping patterns, and self-reported fruit, vegetable, and soda consumption. We objectively assessed fruit and vegetable consumption using a non-invasive reflection spectroscopy device to measure skin carotenoids. We examined associations between variables of interest, using Pearson’s correlation coefficients and adjusted linear regression analyses. A majority (66%) of participants were African American, with a mean age of 43 years, and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 kg/m2. There were no significant associations between the healthfulness of food store offerings, customer purchases, or dietary consumption. Participants who said they had purchased fruits and vegetables at the store previously reported higher produce intake (5.70 (4.29) vs. 4.60 (3.28) servings per day, p = 0.021) versus those who had not previously purchased fresh produce. The NC Legislature has allocated another $250,000 to the HFSRP for the 2018 fiscal year. Thus, evaluation results will be important to inform future healthy corner store policies and initiatives.

Direct Effects of the Home, School, and Consumer Food Environments on the Association between Food Purchasing Patterns and Dietary Intake among Rural Adolescents in Kentucky and North Carolina, 2017.

Background: Obesity rates are higher among rural versus urban adolescents. To examine possible mechanisms for the rural-urban adolescent obesity disparity, we examined the direct and indirect effects of food purchasing patterns, and the home, school, and consumer food environments on dietary intake among rural adolescents. Methods: A baseline survey was conducted among adolescents in eight rural high schools (four in Eastern Kentucky, and four in Eastern North Carolina). Participants answered questions about food purchasing patterns, dietary intake, home food availability, and demographics. The school and consumer food environments were assessed using validated measures from the School Meals Cost Study (United States Department of Agriculture-Mathematica) and the Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey for Stores, Restaurants, and Corner Stores. Results: Of 432 adolescents, 55% were normal weight, 24% were overweight, and 21% were obese. There was a direct association between unhealthy food purchasing patterns (shopping frequently at gas stations, fast food, and dollar stores) and consuming more added sugars, when compared to those with a healthy shopping pattern (shopping less frequently at gas stations, fast food, and dollar stores) [Odds Ratio = 2.41 (95% CI (confidence interval) 0.99, 3.82)]. Those who reported always having fruits and vegetables in the home consumed more servings of fruits and vegetables [OR = 0.31 cups (95% CI 0.22, 0.44)] compared to those who reported never having fruits and vegetables in the home. Adolescents attending a school with a low healthy food availability score consumed fewer servings of fruits and vegetables [−0.001 (95% CI −0.001, 0.0001)] compared to those attending a school with a high healthy food availability score. Conclusions: There are direct associations between food purchasing patterns, the home and school food environments, and dietary intake among rural adolescents. These cross-sectional results informed the development of the “Go Big and Bring it Home” program, a text messaging intervention to improve adolescents’ fruit, vegetable, and healthy beverage intake.

Exploring sales data during a healthy corner store intervention in Toronto: the Food Retail Environments Shaping Health (FRESH) project.

Population health interventions in the retail food environment, such as corner store interventions, aim to influence the kind of cues consumers receive so that they are more often directed toward healthier options. Research that addresses financial aspects of retail interventions, particularly using outcome measures such as store sales that are central to retail decision making, is limited. This study explored store sales over time and across product categories during a healthy corner store intervention in a lowincome neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario. Sales data (from August 2014 to April 2015) were aggregated by product category and by day. We used Microsoft Excel pivot tables to summarize and visually present sales data. We conducted t-tests to examine differences in product category sales by "peak" versus "nonpeak" sales days. Overall store sales peaked on the days at the end of each month, aligned with the issuing of social assistance payments. Revenue spikes on peak sales days were driven predominantly by transit pass sales. On peak sales days, mean sales of nonnutritious snacks and cigarettes were marginally higher than on other days of the month. Finally, creative strategies to increase sales of fresh vegetables and fruits seemed to substantially increase revenue from these product categories. Store sales data is an important store-level metric of food environment intervention success. Furthermore, data-driven decision making by retailers can be important for tailoring interventions. Future interventions and research should consider partnerships and additional success metrics for retail food environment interventions in diverse Canadian contexts.

From corner store to superstore: a historical analysis of Sainsbury’s co-evolution

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the conceptualisation of co-evolution using a corporate history research approach. While the application of the co-evolutionary perspective to the organisational-environmental relationships has uncovered significant evidences, little is understood about how the co-evolutionary process occurs over time between organisations and their institutional environment.Design/methodology/approachA co-evolutionary corporate history approach in used, as the authors investigated Sainsbury’s historical trajectory, exploring the role specific family members played in the evolution of the firm and the co-evolution of Sainsbury’s with its environment. This research design framework encompasses longitudinal archival analysis which incorporates both external and internal engagement which fostered Sainsbury’s joint evolution.FindingsThe findings from this study clearly suggest that certain organisations can and do co-evolve with their environment. However, organisations need to build legitimate cases for co-evolution to occur. In addition, they need to acquire certain resources that can be used to stimulate changes within their institutional environment.Originality/valueThrough a corporate history archival analysis, this study presents a UK company’s evolutionary narrative. The authors contribute to the growing literature on co-evolution in management studies by presenting a detailed historical narrative and interpretation of Sainsbury’s evolution at different time periods.

Perceived Influences on Farmers' Market Use among Urban, WIC-enrolled Women.

We identified perceived barriers and facilitators to purchasing fruits and vegetables (FV) at farmers' markets, FV shopping practices, and reactions to a planned online lesson to promote farmers' market use among urban, inner-city WIC-enrolled women. Thirteen focus groups were conducted with 3-5 participants each (N = 54). Common barriers were structural (transportation issues) and informational (not knowing the locations of markets). Improving access (by increasing the number of area markets, expanding market hours and locations, and increasing transportation options to markets) and raising awareness of the importance of eating healthfully were common facilitators. Information was sought on the locations of farmers who accept FV vouchers provided by WIC, FV sold at farmers' markets, reasons to eat locally grown FV, and FV food safety and preparation skills. Questions were raised about the accessibility of an online lesson; providing information via inperson seminars and handouts also was recommended. Although purchasing FV at supermarkets and corner stores and bodegas was common, concerns were expressed about the freshness, cost, quality, and variety of produce sold at these venues. Findings aid understanding of factors to consider in designing interventions to promote farmers' market use in this population.

한국노인의 사회적 자본을 위한 제 3의 장소를 찾아서

While overall population is experiencing mental difficulties with high mental disorder and suicide rates, the Korean old is worse than the rest of the population. The goal of his study is identifying physical features of existing communities that support social activities and social capital of elderly. Social capital, especially neighborhood related social capital in this study, shows how much people communicate and trust their neighbors. Transformation of Korean urban landscape with low-rise single- and multi-housing into with high-rise apartments could have resulted in less supportive environment for social activities. Pilot interviews showed that low-rise housing residents had higher level of social capital. Rather than housing type itself, public space and its connection to private area of house seemed to provide room for social activties.. Researchers examined the physical environment of the low-rise housing neighborhood and identified functional program such as corner stores, street elements such as plan pots, and spatial structure of streets as three components of spatial aspect of the social activities for elderly population. Given low economic capabilities and social culture of korean elderly the third place of the western culture such as cafe, restaurant, or bar might not work for them. Instead, neighborhood streets and alleys seemed to work as the third place for Korean elderly.

한국노인의 사회적 자본을 위한 제 3의 장소를 찾아서 : 동네 길, 가게, 그리고 평상

한국노인의 사회적 자본을 위한 제 3의 장소를 찾아서 : 동네 길, 가게, 그리고 평상

Pricing of Staple Foods at Supermarkets versus Small Food Stores.

Prices affect food purchase decisions, particularly in lower-income communities, where access to a range of food retailers (including supermarkets) is limited. The aim of this study was to examine differences in staple food pricing between small urban food stores and the closest supermarkets, as well as whether pricing differentials varied based on proximity between small stores and larger retailers. In 2014, prices were measured for 15 staple foods during store visits in 140 smaller stores (corner stores, gas-marts, dollar stores, and pharmacies) in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN and their closest supermarket. Mixed models controlling for store type were used to estimate the average price differential between: (a) smaller stores and supermarkets; (b) isolated smaller stores (>1 mile to closest supermarket) and non-isolated smaller stores; and (c) isolated smaller stores inside versus outside USDA-identified food deserts. On average, all items except white bread were 10–54% more expensive in smaller stores than in supermarkets (p < 0.001). Prices were generally not significantly different in isolated stores compared with non-isolated stores for most items. Among isolated stores, there were no price differences inside versus outside food deserts. We conclude that smaller food stores have higher prices for most staple foods compared to their closest supermarket, regardless of proximity. More research is needed to examine staple food prices in different retail spaces.

The moral economy of corner stores, buying food on credit, and Haitian-Dominican interpersonal relations in the Dominican Republic

ABSTRACTOver the last 10 years, food prices throughout the Dominican Republic have skyrocketed, and gaining access to in-store credit (called fiao) to buy food has become an increasingly pervasive economic strategy to secure household needs. Recent scholarship on food security in the Dominican Republic has focused on strategies Dominicans use to access food on credit through social networks. But there has been little research to date that discusses the strategies migrant Haitians use to buy food in the Dominican Republic. The gap in this literature is all the more noteworthy because of the broader contemporary social, cultural, political, and economic context of an increasing number of Haitians living and working in the Dominican Republic, and the long-standing tension that increased Haitian migration has precipitated. This article examines the strategies people use to establish social networks that help them gain access to in-store credit to buy food at neighborhood corner stores in the Dominican Republic. Haitians remain food secure primarily through fiao exchanges, linking Dominicans and Haitians in extensive social networks that are predicated upon borrowers' reputations of being “gente responsable,” (responsible people, those who are good to their word, pay off their debt, and can be relied upon in times of need). Research results show that fiao is a process that creates trust between Dominicans and Haitians, but it does not necessarily lead to the modification of people's negative perceptions of the Other. The moral economy of corner stores forwards a morality of care by using a system that allows for those who are trusted to stand up for those who have not yet proven this trust. This case study highlights the complexity of Dominican–Haitian relations, shows that everyday life in the Dominican Republic requires intercultural engagement, and gives a more nuanced perspective on when and how discrimination is experienced in the Dominican Republic.

Access to Healthy Foods in Rural Minnesota: A Pilot Analysis of Corner Stores

Food deserts are identified by the United States Department of Agriculture as areas where asignificant proportion of the population lack access to quality food choices. The purpose of this study was toassess the availability of quality fruits, vegetables, dry good, and meats at corner store locations in a south-central Minnesota county designated a food desert. Corner stores (n=22) were audited for the presence of20 fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat meats, and whole grain dry goods. Results indicate more than three-quarters of corner stores did not provide sufficient access to healthy foods, and were not provide sufficientaccess to quality food for residents in the county.

Evaluation of Healthy2Go: A country store transformation project to improve the food environment and consumer choices in Appalachian Kentucky.

Rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in Kentucky's Cumberland Valley region are among the highest in the United States and limited access to healthy food contributes to these epidemics. The aim of Healthy2Go (H2G), a country store transformation project launched by Spread the Health Appalachia (STHA), was to improve awareness and availability of healthy options in small, rural stores. Ten country stores participated in H2G and received training and technical assistance to increase availability and awareness of healthy foods. Stores made inventory changes; installed point-of-purchase educational and in-store marketing materials directing shoppers to healthier options; provided nutrition education such as healthy recipes; and altered the display and location of healthy items. To measure changes within stores and the potential impact on resident eating and purchasing habits, STHA used four instruments: a modified version of the Nutrition Environs Measures Survey – Corner Stores at baseline and follow-up, a bimonthly store inventory assessment, a final store owner survey, and a Community Nutrition Survey at baseline (n = 287) and follow-up (n = 281). The stores in the H2G program (n = 10) had a 40% increase in stocking fresh produce, a 20% increase in produce variety, and trends towards increasing healthy inventory. During the same period, surveyed residents reported a statistically significant increase in the frequency of healthy food consumption. Small store transformation programs can improve availability of and access to healthy food in rural settings and influence local purchasing patterns.

Analysis of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Purchases by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participants

This study examines the differences of item level sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) purchases between two groups: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households and non-SNAP households. An exploratory study was conducted to examine the differences in SSB purchases between SNAP recipients and non-SNAP participants who have loyalty cards with a major, national food retailer. The total expenditure on item level SSB purchases within the year 2011. A descriptive analysis (counts, frequencies) was conducted. The data was limited to descriptive analysis due to data limitations. SSB purchases differed between SNAP households and non-SNAP households. Non-SNAP households had a larger expenditure on SSBs than SNAP households. However, SSB constituted a somewhat larger percentage of total expenditures for SNAP households than non-SNAP households. For SNAP households, SSB items made up the majority of the top ten beverage purchases. SSB consumption remains problematic in the U.S. and policies and education should be focused on reducing SSB consumption regardless of SNAP status. Rather than pointing to low-income households making poor choices, future research should investigate access to and availability of healthy food options in terms of distance to supermarkets and price and selection of available foods (corner stores).

Influencing the Child Shopper with Coupons in Corner Stores: The CHOMPS Pilot Project

Influencing the Child Shopper with Coupons in Corner Stores: The CHOMPS Pilot Project

Examining the Need for a Healthy Corner Store Intervention

Examining the Need for a Healthy Corner Store Intervention

Community Residents’ Beliefs About Neighborhood Corner Stores in 2 Latino Communities: Implications for Interventions to Improve the Food Environment

ABSTRACTWe assessed community residents’ perceptions of corner stores to better understand what facilitates and deters patronage at these food outlets. Data came from 978 household interviews in 2 Latino communities undergoing corner store interventions. Chi-square tests, an independent sample t test, and a multivariate logistic regression were conducted to assess the relationship between residents’ perceptions about corner stores and their reported patronage at these food outlets. Residents reported that corner stores do not sell a variety of fruits and vegetables and are not places where one can get information about healthy eating. Convenience, cleanliness, positive customer service, availability of culturally appropriate items, and availability of quality fresh fruit increased the odds of store patronage. Simply providing healthy foods will not incentivize patrons to purchase them. Corner store interventions can be more effective if they address the characteristics that community residents prioritize.