Primary Grocery Research Articles

Benchmarking for healthy food stores: protocol for a randomised controlled trial with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia to enhance adoption of health-enabling store policy and practice

BackgroundAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in remote Australia have initiated bold policies for health-enabling stores. Benchmarking, a data-driven and facilitated ‘audit and feedback’ with action planning process, provides a potential strategy to strengthen and scale health-enabling best-practice adoption by remote community store directors/owners. We aim to co-design a benchmarking model with five partner organisations and test its effectiveness with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community stores in remote Australia.MethodsStudy design is a pragmatic randomised controlled trial with consenting eligible stores (located in very remote Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, primary grocery store for an Aboriginal community, and serviced by a Nutrition Practitioner with a study partner organisation). The Benchmarking model is informed by research evidence, purpose-built best-practice audit and feedback tools, and co-designed with partner organisation and community representatives. The intervention comprises two full benchmarking cycles (one per year, 2022/23 and 2023/24) of assessment, feedback, action planning and action implementation. Assessment of stores includes i adoption status of 21 evidence-and industry-informed health-enabling policies for remote stores, ii implementation of health-enabling best-practice using a purpose-built Store Scout App, iii price of a standardised healthy diet using the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healthy Diets ASAP protocol; and, iv healthiness of food purchasing using sales data indicators. Partner organisations feedback reports and co-design action plans with stores. Control stores receive assessments and continue with usual retail practice. All stores provide weekly electronic sales data to assess the primary outcome, change in free sugars (g) to energy (MJ) from all food and drinks purchased, baseline (July-December 2021) vs July-December 2023.DiscussionWe hypothesise that the benchmarking intervention can improve the adoption of health-enabling store policy and practice and reduce sales of unhealthy foods and drinks in remote community stores of Australia. This innovative research with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities can inform effective implementation strategies for healthy food retail more broadly.Trial registrationACTRN12622000596707, Protocol version 1.

'Healthier options tend to get lost in the noise of online' - Australian shoppers' experiences with online grocery platforms.

We aimed to understand what influences parents' purchasing behaviours when shopping for groceries online and potential ways to improve the healthiness of online grocery platforms. We conducted semi-structured interviews, guided by the Marketing Mix framework. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Online interviews were conducted with primary grocery shoppers. Parents (n 14) or caregivers (n 2) using online grocery platforms at least every 2 weeks. Most participants perceived purchasing healthy food when shopping for groceries online to be more challenging compared to in physical stores. They expressed concerns about the prominence of online marketing for unhealthy food. Participants from lower socio-economic backgrounds often depended on online supermarket catalogues to find price promotions, but healthy options at discounted prices were limited. Across socio-economic groups, fresh items like meat and fruit were preferred to be purchased instore due to concerns about online food quality.Participants believed online grocery platforms should make healthy foods more affordable and supported regulations on supermarket retailers to promote healthy options and limit unhealthy food promotion online. Participants had varied experiences with online grocery shopping, with both positive and negative aspects. Efforts to improve population diets need to include mechanisms to create health-enabling online grocery retail platforms. Government interventions to restrict marketing of unhealthy foods and promote marketing of healthy options on these platforms warrant investigation.

Perceived Health and Diet Quality Among Hispanics in South Florida.

There is limited information if perceived health is associated with diet quality in Hispanics. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate is health perception is associated with diet quality among 109 adults in South Florida. Individuals conducting a primary grocery shopping event were asked to complete a survey about their perceived health and to provide a picture of their grocery receipt to estimate diet quality using the Grocery Purchase Quality Index 2016 (GPQI-2016). Data was analyzed using analysis of covariance, adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, and household size. Mean age was 45.1 ± 13.5 years, 74% were female, 79% were Hispanics, and 36.7% perceived themselves as having 'Good' health. The total average GPQI-2016 score was 40.9 ± 1.0. Perceived health was not significantly associated with total average GPQI-2016 score (p > 0.05). There was no association between perceived health and total diet quality in this sample of Hispanic adults.

Perception and demand for healthy snacks/beverages among US consumers vary by product, health benefit, and color.

Concerns about the numerous health problems associated with unhealthy snacks prompted recommendations to steer individuals toward healthier eating habits. One such recommendation advises limiting unhealthy snacks and replacing them with more fruits and vegetables with significant health benefits. This study investigates US consumers' perceptions and preferences for healthy (vegetable-based) snacks/beverages. An online survey was designed to estimate consumer perception and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for vegetable-based crackers, spreads, and beverages. A sampling company sent the survey to its national consumer panels in 2020, resulting in a sample of 402 US consumers. Eligible participants were adults, primary grocery shoppers who consumed crackers, spreads, and beverages. Consumer WTP for healthy snacks/beverages, the dependent variable, was elicited using a payment card method. Independent variables include personality traits (Innovativeness and Extraversion) and the important factors affecting healthy snack purchases, health consciousness, and demographic variables. Results show that consumers' preferences for healthy snacking vary by product, even when the products have similar health benefits. Significant positive associations exist between WTP for healthy snacks/beverages and personality traits, health consciousness, and some demographics. This study provides critical insights to policymakers and informs marketing campaigns to promote healthy snacking in the US more effectively.

Food Insecurity in the Rural United States: An Examination of Struggles and Coping Mechanisms to Feed a Family among Households with a Low-Income.

Households with a low-income in rural places experience disproportionate levels of food insecurity. Further research is needed about the nuances in strategies that households with a low-income in rural areas apply to support food security nationally. This study aimed to understand the barriers and strategies that households with a low-income in rural areas experience to obtain a meal and support food security in the United States. We conducted a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews among 153 primary grocery shoppers with a low-income residing in rural counties. A majority of family's ideal meals included animal-based protein, grains, and vegetables. Main themes included struggles to secure food and coping mechanisms. Ten categories included affordability, adequacy, accommodation, appetite, time, food source coordinating, food resource management, reduced quality, rationing for food, and exceptional desperation. These results can inform public health professionals' efforts when partnering to alleviate food insecurity in rural areas.

Heterogeneity in grocery shopping patterns among low-income minority women in public housing

BackgroundPublic housing residents, who tend to be predominantly female and racial/ethnic minorities, are at a particularly high risk for chronic health conditions. Prior studies have suggested that a lack of access to healthy and affordable food may be an important barrier in public housing communities, but evidence is mixed on the association between the neighborhood food environment and dietary quality, suggesting the need to examine food access patterns in low-income, minority communities more deeply. The purpose of this study was to examine the variability in grocery shopping patterns, and the factors that predict them, among low-income minority women in public housing.MethodsInterviewer-administered surveys and body composition measurements were collected in the Watts Neighborhood Health Study, an ongoing longitudinal cohort study of low-income urban public housing residents located in South Los Angeles. Descriptive analyses were conducted to understand the variation in grocery shopping patterns among women. Logistic and ordered logistic regression models were estimated to examine the association between resident characteristics and grocery shopping patterns.ResultsThere was considerable variability in grocery shopping patterns, including the types of grocery stores accessed, distance travelled, frequency of shopping, and reasons behind grocery store choice. Grocery shopping patterns were associated with several participant characteristics, including race/ethnicity, working status, access to a car, income, and education. Hispanic participants were less likely to shop at a supermarket, travel further distances to shop, shop more frequently, and were more likely to prioritize price in their choice of primary grocery store than non-Hispanic Black women participants.ConclusionsThere was considerable variability in grocery shopping patterns, even within this low-income, minority community despite access to the same neighborhood food environment. Convenience and quality, in addition to price, were priorities for choice of primary grocery store, and differences by race/ethnicity suggest that initiatives to improve the neighborhood food environment should consider quality of food, cultural factors, and availability of foods desired by the surrounding community, in addition to price and proximity of grocery stores.

Longitudinal Patterns of Food Procurement Over the Course of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From a Canadian Online Household Survey.

IntroductionConsumer food procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic has been understudied. This investigation aimed to longitudinally evaluate food procurement patterns, concern of virus exposure in grocery retailers, and food access challenges over the pandemic among a sample of households in Quebec, Canada.MethodsOnline surveys were collected at three time points of the pandemic: first wave in spring 2020 (lockdown period), summer 2020 (deconfinement period), and second wave in winter 2021 (curfew period). Respondents were the household's primary grocery shopper (n = 491). Non-parametric tests and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to compare responses over time and to evaluate characteristics of respondents who regularly used no-contact grocery methods (store pick-up or home delivery).ResultsFrequency of in-store grocery shopping was lowest during the lockdown (once per week or less), and significantly increased over time to resemble pre-pandemic frequency. Concern of virus exposure in grocery retailers and disinfection/discarding of food packaging was highest during the lockdown, but significantly decreased over time. At all time points, use of public transit, walking or cycling for grocery shopping was associated with regular use of no-contact grocery methods (curfew odds ratio (OR): 3.13 (95% confidence interval 1.60, 6.14). Age (60 years+) was associated with regular use during the lockdown [OR: 2.27 (1.13, 4.59)].ConclusionAmong our sample, frequency of in-store grocery shopping was lowest and concern of virus exposure in stores was highest during the lockdown period. No-contact grocery use was associated with transportation mode and potentially with personal risk perception (age).

Introducing the Front-Of-Pack Acceptance Model: the role of usefulness and ease of use in European consumers’ acceptance of Front-Of-Pack Labels

In recent years, increasing attention to the utilisation of Front-Of-Pack Labels (FOPLs) as a tool to prompt individuals towards healthier food choices has been observed both in regulatory bodies and academic research. However, few theoretical models have been used to understand their role in consumer decision-making, as well as the antecedents that induce individuals to accept the information provided by the label, and to benchmark FOPL performance in different markets. Through a sequence of two studies conducted in Italy, France and the UK on 2812 primary grocery shoppers, we developed a new theoretical framework, the Front-Of-Pack Acceptance Model, applicable both in contexts in which FOPL are present, and in which they should be introduced. Our findings suggest a structural link between the usefulness and ease of use of the labels and the way consumers form their attitudes and intentions towards buying healthier products.

Do efforts to reduce packaging waste impact preferences for meal kits?

The food industry has been innovative in developing new products and services in response to the increasing demand for healthy and convenient food. Meal kits, a growing segment in the market, provide pre-measured bundles of raw ingredients with recipe cards for a complete home-cooked meal. However, to ensure food safety and quality, meal kits sold online come with a lot of packaging, creating waste. This study examines the market for meal kits as an example of healthy and convenient food, paying particular attention to the impact of packaging waste on consumer behavior. First, the willingness to pay for key attributes of meal kits is estimated, including whether the meal kit is ordered on meal kit websites or purchased at grocery stores. Second, the impact of providing eco-friendly packaging on the choice of purchasing platforms (online vs. offline) is investigated. Based on 1,217 primary grocery shoppers in the US, results reveal that consumers have a higher willingness to pay for meal kits sold at grocery stores, with organic, local, and pre-cut ingredients. The provision of fully recyclable insulation packaging helps consumers feel more positive regarding online meal kit packaging. However, it does not lead to any changes in the preference of purchasing platforms, showing a robust preference for buying meal kits at grocery stores.

How did Covid-19 impact US household foods? an analysis six months in.

Using a nationwide survey of primary grocery shoppers conducted in August 2020, we examine household food spending when the economy had partially reopened and consumers had different spending opportunities in comparison to when the Covid-19 lockdown began. We estimate the impact of Covid-19 on household spending using interval and Order Probit regressions. Income levels, age, access to grocery stores and farmers markets, household demographic information, along with other independent variables are controlled in the model. Findings show that middle-class households (with income below $50,000, or with income between $50,000 and $99,999) are less likely to increase their grocery expenditures during the pandemic. Households with children or elderlies that usually require higher food quality and nutrition intakes had a higher probability of increasing their spending during Covid-19 than before. Furthermore, consumers’ spending behaviors were also significantly affected by their safe handing levels and the Covid-19 severity and food accessibility in their residences.

Measuring the Effect of Blockchain Extrinsic Cues on Consumers' Perceived Flavor and Healthiness: A Cross-Country Analysis.

Many studies in the related literature have proven that the perception of flavor and healthiness can be affected by both the product’s intrinsic and extrinsic cues. Package designs, brands, colors, labels and other visual elements exert and influence consumers’ expectations and guide them toward food decisions. With the increasing initiatives promoted within Europe in support of the adoption of blockchain technology in supply chains and agri-food contexts, in the coming years, packages will be used with additional product information certified with the technology itself. Cueing packages with blockchain-certified information could affect consumers in their overall flavor and health perceptions, similarly to that previously demonstrated with other extrinsic cues. In the present study, we analyzed a sample of 310 primary grocery shoppers from Germany, Italy and the UK, demonstrating the effectiveness of technology-certified information on the package of animal milk in influencing consumers’ flavor and health perceptions and exploring the differences and similarities across the three countries and milk categories.

"Treat everybody right": Examining foodways to improve food access

Detroit is regularly assumed to be a “food desert” despite contradicting evidence. With fruits and vegetables available at each of Detroit’s 70 independent, full-line grocery stores, there remains a lack of understanding among media and academics of residents’ perception and preferences for food access. A baseline study was initiated during the summer of 2014 to understand residents’ own perceptions of food access and to assess the socio-cultural foodways utilized by residents. A total of 207 Detroit residents participated in focus groups and interviews to discuss food provisioning. Residents identified a wide range of food access points, from home gardens and fishing to specialty meat markets and big-box stores. However, 60% of residents reported that their primary grocery store was a chain supermarket outside the city limits. Residents highlighted “customer service” and in-store treatment as key factors in choosing where to shop for food. These new findings present contradictions to assumptions about food access in Detroit and similar cities. The findings point to a significant opportunity to leverage geo-ethnographic methods in order to focus on resident perceptions and preferences to improve food access.

35058 A Mixed Method Study: Can Lyft Facilitate Better Access to Healthy Food?

ABSTRACT IMPACT: Interventions designed to improve access to healthy food are needed as a mechanism to improve diet quality and ultimately prevent diet-related chronic diseases. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: For people living in food deserts, access to grocery stores is an important consideration toward improving diet quality. The Grocery Access Program (GAP) provided discounted Lyft rides to grocery stores for residents in Baltimore, MD. This study will assess how the GAP impacted access to different food retail stores and healthy food purchases. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A mixed methods sequential explanatory design will be used. We collected survey data at baseline and mid-pilot on primary grocery shopping store, frequency of purchasing fruits and vegetables, and frequency of using the discounted Lyft rides for 90 program enrollees. The Healthy Food Availability Index (HFAI), a validated, observation-based instrument, will be used to measure healthy food availability at participants’ primary grocery shopping stores; HFAI scores range from 0-27. We will also compare frequency of self-reported fruit and vegetable purchases before and after GAP participation. Quantitative data analysis using paired sample t-tests and chi square tests will be followed by in-depth interviews with GAP participants; thematic analysis will be used to analyze qualitative data. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: This research is in progress; survey data collection is complete and store-level HFAI data collection will begin soon. We hypothesize that GAP participants will have shopped at stores with higher HFAI scores than non-participants, and that participants will have purchased healthy foods more frequently than they did prior to GAP participation. If these hypotheses are not supported, our qualitative findings will elucidate potential reasons and mechanisms for improving the program. If our hypotheses are supported, it will provide evidence for the GAP as a convenient, low-cost intervention to improve healthy food access for people in low-income communities. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Access to healthy foods is an important social determinant of health, and innovative strategies that can facilitate better dietary habits are needed in the area of food access research. Findings from this study could be used to scale up efforts that will foster better food access, healthier diets, and ultimately better health outcomes.

Characterising urban immigrants' interactions with the food retail environment.

The food retail environment is an important determinant of food access and the ability to achieve a healthy diet. However, immigrant communities may procure their food in different ways than the mainstream population owing to preferences for specific cultural products or limited English language proficiency. The objective of this analysis was to describe the grocery shopping patterns and behaviours of one of the largest immigrant groups in New York City, Chinese Americans - a group experiencing high poverty and cardio-metabolic disparities. Cross-sectional survey data. Community-based sample. Self-identified Chinese Americans in the New York metropolitan area (n 239). Three shopping patterns were identified: type 1: shopped weekly at an ethnic grocery store - and nowhere else; type 2: shopped weekly at a non-ethnic grocery store, with occasional shopping at an ethnic store and type 3: did not perform weekly shopping. Type 1 v. type 2 shoppers tended to have lower education levels (37·5 v. 78·0 % with college degree); to be on public insurance (57·6 v. 22·8 %); speak English less well (18·4 v. 41·4 %); be food insecure (47·2 v. 24·2 %; P < 0·01 for all) and to travel nearly two miles further to shop at their primary grocery store (β = -1·55; 95 % CI -2·81, -0·30). There are distinct grocery shopping patterns amongst urban-dwelling Chinese Americans corresponding to demographic and sociocultural factors that may help inform health interventions in this understudied group. Similar patterns may exist among other immigrant groups, lending preliminary support for an alternative conceptualisation of how immigrant communities interact with the food retail environment.

Prominent positioning and food swaps are effective interventions to reduce the saturated fat content of the shopping basket in an experimental online supermarket: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundInterventions to reduce the saturated fat (SFA) content of food purchases may help reduce SFA consumption and lower cardiovascular risk. This factorial RCT aimed to examine the effect of altering the default order of foods and being offered a swap on the SFA content of food selected during an online shopping experiment.MethodsUK adults who were the primary grocery shoppers for their household were recruited online and invited to select items in a custom-made experimental online supermarket using a 10-item shopping list. Participants were randomly allocated to one of four groups (i) to see products within a category ranked in ascending order of SFA content, (ii) receive an offer to swap to a product with less SFA, (iii) a combination of both interventions, or (iv) no intervention. The primary outcome was the difference in percentage energy from SFA in the shopping basket between any of the four groups. The outcome assessors and statistician were blinded to intervention allocation.ResultsBetween March and July 2018, 1240 participants were evenly randomised and 1088 who completed the task were analysed (88%). Participants were 65% female and aged 38y (SD 12). Compared with no intervention (n = 275) where the percentage energy from SFA was 25.7% (SD 5.6%), altering the order of foods (n = 261) reduced SFA by [mean difference (95%CI)] -5.0% (− 6.3 to − 3.6) and offering swaps (n = 279) by − 2.0% (− 3.3 to − 0.6). The combined intervention (n = 273) was significantly more effective than swaps alone (− 3.4% (− 4.7 to − 2.1)) but not different than altering the order alone (− 0.4% (− 1.8 to 0.9)), p = 0.04 for interaction.ConclusionsAltering the default order to show foods in ascending order of SFA and offering a swap with lower SFA reduced percentage energy from SFA in an experimental online supermarket. Environmental-level interventions, such as altering the default order, may be a more promising way to improve food purchasing than individual-level ones, such as offering swaps.Trial registrationISRCTN13729526 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13729526 26th February 2018.

The interaction effect of socioeconomic status and emotions on willingness to pay

ABSTRACTThe aim of this work is to determine whether the interaction of emotions and socioeconomic status affects a consumer’s willingness to pay. For this purpose, we used an online survey of cheese preferences among primary grocery shoppers in Chile. Through a conjoint analysis, we find that socioeconomic status and emotions, and their interactions, are the significant and relevant variables that explain changes in willingness to pay with regard to cheese texture and color. Moreover, the willingness-to-pay results change relevantly when socioeconomic status is interacted with negative emotions.

Determining Nutritional Barriers to Access to Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, and Whole Grains in Older Americans

The University of the District of Columbia is a partner of the Northeast Hatch Multistate Research Collaborative. This research project, known as the UDC NE 1439, was designed as a pilot study to determine the barriers that prevented the consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains among older adults in Wards 5, 7, and 8 in the District of Columbia (DC). The residents of these wards have been shown to have higher rates of chronic diseases. Data shows that Ward 7 has the highest rate of deaths due to diabetes. Furthermore, Wards 5, 7, and 8 have the highest percentage of hypertension and diabetes This project used a quantitative and qualitative survey instrument, which included 53 questions and/or statements using a Likert scale: demographics (8 questions); household information (2 questions); shopping habits (8 questions); eating habits, including the identity of the person who prepared meals in the home (21 questions); physical fitness (11 questions); and policy (3 questions). Ninety-six (96) older adults participated in the survey, with a gender distribution of 77% female (68 individuals), 22% male (24 individuals), and 1% not reported (1 individual). The racial distribution of the participants was 91% (87) African American, .01% (one) Asian American, .01% (one) Caucasian, .01% (one) Native American, and .03% (three) others/not reported. Additionally, according to the participants’ residency results, Ward 5 accounted for 23% of the participants (24 participants), Ward 7 for 38% (33 participants), and Ward 8 for 38% (33 participants). The participants’ average age was ≥ 56, (45 to 76 and over) and most were the primary financial supporters of their households and the primary grocery shoppers in their families. In conclusion, this project determined that access to fresh fruits and vegetables and travel time to a full-service grocer were less prominent barriers; this was an unexpected finding. Though the participants indicated sufficient access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, they lacked nutrition-based knowledge. Many of them viewed unfitting food choices as healthy. An intervention centered on nutrition education using food demonstrations and grocer tours would improve nutrition knowledge in this population. This offered these nutrition and dietetics research assistants with an opportunity to provide nutrition education to the population in question. Moreover, it presents an opportunity to extend nutrition education to all seniors across the Washington, DC region. KEYWORDS: Fruits; Vegetables; Whole Grains; Urban; Disease; African American; Health; Nutrition; Food Security; Food Desert, Senior Citizens

Low-income respondents’ perceptions about food retail and food pantry shopping environments

ABSTRACTA cross-sectional self-administered survey was conducted with adult participants from Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program class series (n = 194) to assess respondents’ perceptions about their primary grocery store and food pantry environments that are potentially influential in obtaining fruits and vegetables (F&V). Survey design followed the Model of Community Nutrition Environments. Perceived availability, access, and affordability of F&V in the retail environment were assessed including factors potentially influencing greater purchase of F&V. The survey sample included respondents from diverse ethnic/racial groups. Findings provide guidance to retail and food pantry partners for promoting healthier choices in ways meaningful to respondents.

Attitude and Behavior Factors Associated with Front-of-Package Label Use with Label Users Making Accurate Product Nutrition Assessments

BackgroundFront-of-package (FOP) labels are increasing in popularity on retail products. Reductive FOP labels provide nutrient-specific information, whereas evaluative FOP labels summarize nutrient information through icons. Better understanding of consumer behavior regarding FOP labels is beneficial to increasing consumer use of nutrition labeling when making grocery purchasing decisions. ObjectiveWe aimed to determine FOP label format effectiveness in aiding consumers at assessing nutrient density of food products. In addition, we sought to determine relationships between FOP label use and attitude toward healthy eating, diet self-assessment, self-reported health and nutrition knowledge, and label and shopping behaviors. DesignA between-subjects experimental design was employed. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four label conditions: Facts Up Front, Facts Up Front Extended, a binary symbol, and no-label control. Participants/settingOne hundred sixty-one US primary grocery shoppers, aged 18 to 69 years. Participants were randomly invited to the online study. InterventionParticipants in one of four label condition groups viewed three product categories (cereal, dairy, and snacks) with corresponding questions. Main outcome measuresAdults’ nutrition assessment of food products based on different FOP label formats, along with label use and attitude toward healthy eating, diet self-assessment, self-reported health and nutrition knowledge, and label and shopping behaviors. Statistical analyses performedData analyses included descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, and logistical regression. Significant outcomes were set to α=.05. ResultsParticipants selected the more nutrient-dense product in the snack food category when it contained an FOP label. Subjective health and nutrition knowledge and frequency of selecting food for healthful reasons were associated with FOP label use (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). ConclusionsBoth Facts Up Front (reductive) and binary (evaluative) FOP labels appear effective for nutrition assessment of snack products compared with no label. Specific attitude and behavior factors were associated with label use.

Passive information behaviors while grocery shopping

ABSTRACTInformation behavior addresses how individuals use information throughout the various contexts of their daily lives. Previous research in the field has explored passive information behaviors, but not addressed them in the quotidian aspects of life, such as grocery shopping. The current work fills this gap by addressing passive information behaviors throughout the grocery shopping process providing useful insights into how individuals interact with information in a new domain. Data was gathered through two empirical studies using qualitative methods emphasizing the lived experience of primary grocery shoppers. Findings show that information encountering, browsing and monitoring are prevalent in the grocery store and during the planning of a shopping trip demonstrating the information richness of grocery shopping.