Store Size Research Articles

The shelf space and strategic placement of healthy and discretionary foods in urban, urban-fringe and rural/non-metropolitan Australian supermarkets.

Supermarkets are a key influence on eating behaviours, but it is unknown if the promotion of food within stores varies on a geographic gradient from urban, to urban-fringe and non-metropolitan areas. The present study aimed to assess the shelf space and strategic placement of healthy and discretionary foods in each of urban, urban-fringe and non-metropolitan Australian supermarkets. Design/Setting In-store audits were conducted in stores from one of the two major Australian supermarket chains in urban (n 19), urban-fringe (n 20) and non-metropolitan (n 26) areas of Victoria. These audits examined selected food items (crisps/chips, chocolate, confectionery, soft drinks/sodas, fruits and vegetables) and measured the shelf space and the proportion of end-of-aisle and cash register displays containing these products. Store size was measured as the sum of aisle length. Differences in the supermarket food environment with respect to location were assessed, before and after adjustment for neighbourhood socio-economic position. The strategic placement of discretionary foods was commonly observed in all supermarkets. Adjusting for store size (larger in urban-fringe and rural areas), urban stores had greater shelf space devoted to fruits and vegetables, and less checkouts with soft drinks, than urban-fringe and rural/non-metropolitan areas. Differences remained following adjustment for neighbourhood socio-economic position. No clear pattern was observed for end-of-aisle displays, or the placement of chocolate and confectionery at checkouts. The shelf space of healthy and discretionary foods in urban-fringe and rural stores parallels the prevalence of overweight and obesity in these areas. Interventions in urban-fringe and rural stores targeting the shelf space of healthy foods and the placement of soft drinks at key displays may be useful obesity prevention initiatives.

Food Melt in Consumer Food Environments in Low-income Urban Neighborhoods.

We systematically evaluated changes in availability, price, and quality of perishable food items from the beginning to the end of the month in lowincome, urban neighborhoods. The sample included grocery stores or supermarkets in Cleveland, Ohio, within neighborhoods with >30% of population receiving food assistance. We collected data for 2 sequential months during the first and fourth weeks of each month. Two coders evaluated stores, collecting measures of availability, price, and quality for 50 items. We examined difference in number and proportion of items available at the beginning of the month (BOM) to items remaining available at the end of the month (EOM), as well as quality and price of those items. Across 48 stores, availability at EOM was lower than BOM; as store size increased, reduction in availability (ie, food melt) was significantly (p < .01) less pronounced. Overall, items became less expensive at the EOM whereas quality remained consistent; we noted no statistically significant differences by store type for price or quality. Food melt differentially affects individuals in neighborhoods without grocery stores. Findings reveal composition of food environments is dynamic rather than static, influencing food-purchasing choices among lowincome consumers.

Who is behind the stocking of energy-dense foods and beverages in small stores? The importance of food and beverage distributors.

The present study examined food and beverage distributors' sourcing, placement and promotion of obesogenic (energy-dense, nutrient-poor) product categories from the perspective of small food store owners/managers. The obesogenic product categories of interest were savoury snacks, sugary beverages, sweet snacks, confectionery and frozen treats. Specifically, we examined how frequently distributors sourced these products, and the types of agreements and expectations they had for their placement and promotion. Differences were explored by store size and ethnicity. Fresh produce was used as a comparison when examining differences in frequency of sourcing only, with implications for healthy food access. Survey research involving in-person interviews. Four urban areas in the USA: Baltimore, MD; Durham, NC; Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN; and San Diego, CA. Seventy-two small food store owners/managers, 65 % consent rate. Most distributors sourced obesogenic products weekly. Agreements to place products were predominantly informal (e.g. handshake) with sweet snack, confectionery and frozen treat distributors, and formal (e.g. contract) with savoury snack and sugary beverage distributors. Free-standing displays were the most common incentive provided by distributors and they expected some control over their placement and pricing. Free/discounted products and signage were also common incentives but slotting fees were not. Smaller stores and ethnic stores were less likely to receive various incentives, but among sweet snack distributors, they were more likely to control the price in ethnic v. non-ethnic stores. Obesogenic products are ubiquitous. Influencing what is made available to consumers in the retail food environment needs to consider the distributor.

Discrete Choice Model of Food Store Trips Using National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS).

Where households across income levels shop for food is of central concern within a growing body of research focused on where people live relative to where they shop, what they purchase and eat, and how those choices influence the risk of obesity and chronic disease. We analyzed data from the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS) using a conditional logit model to determine where participants shop for food to be prepared and eaten at home and how individual and household characteristics of food shoppers interact with store characteristics and distance from home in determining store choice. Store size, whether or not it was a full-service supermarket, and the driving distance from home to the store constituted the three significant main effects on store choice. Overall, participants were more likely to choose larger stores, conventional supermarkets rather than super-centers and other types of stores, and stores closer to home. Interaction effects show that participants receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were even more likely to choose larger stores. Hispanic participants were more likely than non-Hispanics to choose full-service supermarkets while White participants were more likely to travel further than non-Whites. This study demonstrates the value of explicitly spatial discrete choice models and provides evidence of national trends consistent with previous smaller, local studies.

Development, reliability and use of a food environment assessment tool in supermarkets of four neighbourhoods in Montréal, Canada.

The food environment is a promising arena in which to influence people's dietary habits. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive food environment assessment tool for businesses and characterize the food environment of a low-tomedium income area of Montréal, Canada. We developed a tool, Mesure de l'environnement alimentaire du consommateur dans les supermarchés (MEAC-S), and tested it for reliability. We used the MEAC-S to assess the consumer food environment of 17 supermarkets in four neighbourhoods of Montréal. We measured the shelf length, variety, price, display counts and in-store positions of fruits and vegetables (FV) and ultra-processed food products (UPFPs). We also assessed fresh FV for quality. Store size was estimated using the total measured shelf length for all food categories. We conducted Spearman correlations between these indicators of the food environment. Reliability analyses revealed satisfactory results for most indicators. Characterization of the food environment revealed high variability in shelf length, variety and price of FV between supermarkets and suggested a disproportionate promotion of UPFPs. Display counts of UPFPs outside their normal display location ranged from 7 to 26, and they occupied 8 to 33 strategic in-store positions, whereas the number of display counts of fresh FV outside their normal display location exceeded 1 in only 2 of the 17 stores surveyed, and they occupied a maximum of 2 strategic in-store positions per supermarket. Price of UPFPs was inversely associated with their prominence (p < .005) and promotion (p < .003). Store size was associated with display counts and strategic in-store positioning of UPFPs (p < .001), but not FV, and was inversely associated with the price of soft drinks (p < .003). This study illustrates the variability of the food environment between supermarkets and underscores the importance of measuring in-store characteristics to adequately picture the consumer food environment.

Food environments in Malta: Associations with store size and area-level deprivation

Food environments are potential targets for interventions to reduce obesity prevalence, particularly in island settings that are typically dependent on food imports. This observational study aimed to characterise the availability, quality and price of foods and beverages in a nationally representative sample of grocery stores in Malta using the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for Stores (NEMS-S) instrument, and to examine the association between area-level density of different types of food stores and the likelihood of children living in these areas being overweight or obese. Fieldwork was carried out between March and May 2014. There was a strong positive correlation between store size and NEMS-S score (p=<0.001), suggesting that smaller grocery stores generally offered a smaller range of products and fewer healthy food/beverage options than larger supermarkets. Across all stores, median prices of certain ‘healthier’ versions of foods were more expensive than their less healthy alternatives. A significant association between risk of childhood overweight, and density of confectionery stores in children’s locality of residence, was found (OR 1.19; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.37). These baseline findings highlight opportunities to improve the food environment in Malta to support more healthful eating, and may be of particular interest to public health practitioners in island settings.

Redefining Retail Store Formats - A South African Study

The global competitive retail space is challenging and the retailers are experimenting with different strategies to gain competitive advantage in the market. Retailers are developing and designing new and improved store formats to mirror the customers’ expectations by using distinctive benefits. Thus attracting and retaining customers by creating store brand loyalty is every retailer’s dream and they are spending a huge amount of time and money in developing these uniquely attractive retail store formats. However, limited academic research is available to help retailers understand the most profitable and popular retail store format in South Africa.This empirical research paper is an attempt to investigate the influence of the design, type and size of the retail store on the customer buying behaviour in the consumer durables market by examining a random sample of respondents from Gauteng, South Africa. The research findings, indicates that there is a varying degree of effect of retail store formats on the customer buying behaviour. Most of the variables have a positive correlation with other variables of customer behaviour. However in some cases, variables have significant inverse relationship with each other.

Emaciated mannequins: a study of mannequin body size in high street fashion stores

BackgroundThere is concern that the body size of fashion store mannequins are too thin and promote unrealistic body ideals. To date there has been no systematic examination of the size of high street fashion store mannequins.MethodsWe surveyed national fashion retailers located on the high street of two English cities. The body size of ‘male’ and ‘female’ mannequins was assessed by two blinded research assistants using visual rating scales.ResultsThe average female mannequin body size was representative of a very underweight woman and 100% of female mannequins represented an underweight body size. The average male mannequin body size was significantly larger than the average female mannequin body size. Only 8% of male mannequins represented an underweight body size.ConclusionsThe body size of mannequins used to advertise female fashion is unrealistic and would be considered medically unhealthy in humans.

복합쇼핑몰 개발을 위한 매장규모 및 임대차 관점에 따른 임차인 입점결정요인에 관한 연구

본 연구는 국내 복합쇼핑몰의 임차인 입점을 결정하는 요인에 대한 분석을 위해 SPA브랜드를 대상으로 2개의 상위기준에 따른 6개의 중위기준으로 구분되는 24개 요인을 도출하였다. 이를 AHP-Fuzzy기법을 기반으로 매장규모 및 임대차 관점에 따른 요인별 중요도를 도출한 결과, 공통적으로 '상권규모 및 특성', '유동량', 'MD계획' 등의 중요도가 높게 나타났다. 규모별로 대형은 '매장크기', 'Main층 입점여부', 중형은 '키테넌트 입점여부', '경쟁브랜드 입점여부', 소형은 '주동선 접속유무', 'Main층 입점여부'가 중요하게 나타났으며, 임대차 관점에 있어서는 개발자는 '교통의 편리성/접근성'과 '연면적', 테넌트는 '키테넌트 입점여부'와 'Main층 입점여부'가 주요 요인으로 나타났다. 이러한 분석결과를 기반으로 복합쇼핑몰 개발사업의 기획단계에서 사업규모에 맞는 적정면적배분 및 특성이 사업계획과 설계 및 시설의 운영을 위한 임대차관리에 반영되어 차별성을 가지는 임차인 유치전략 수립에 시사점을 제공하고자 한다. This study intends to determine the decision making criteria of leasing in mix-used shopping mall, analyze the variation of their weight by store size inside mall and lend-lease perspective for lessor and lessee towards the identification of optimal leasing environment in mix-used shopping mall development. The decision making have been identified based on the number of prior literature review and expert consultation. And the AHP methodology and Fuzzy theory have been implemented to develop the weight for criteria based on experts survey. Research finding indicates that the 2 categories with 6 criteria and 24 sub-criteria have been determined. It is noteworthy that the large sized group would be located in both ends on main floor with their requested store size; middle sized group done over second floor with low rent by attracting with both competitive brands and key-tenants; small sized group done in both ends on main floor or on 2 to 3 floor connecting to main circulation. This should be examined in the planning stage of SPA lessee solicitation by the lessor in mix-used shopping mall development project.

Fundamental patterns of in-store shopper behavior

This research confirms empirical patterns about in-store behaviors based on a large number of shops and store visits, specifically 654,000 transactions in 40 supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience and specialty stores in the USA, UK, China, and Australia. Integrating new data with past findings highlights that: (i) many shopping trips are short; (ii) shoppers typically only cover a small proportion of the store on any trip, and (iii) the heterogeneity of key behavioral measures (store coverage, number of items bought, and trip length) is generalizable across countries, most store formats, and store size. These patterns can help retailers and manufacturers benchmark and predict behavior and provide a base for further theoretical developments.

Adrenal medullary dysfunction as a feature of obesity.

Although there is strong evidence linking obesity with increased sympathoneural activity, involvement of the adrenal medulla is less clear. We therefore investigated adrenal medullary function under fasting and feeding conditions in normal weight (NW, n=33), overweight (OW, n=28) and obese (OB, n=36) adults (59% women). Ninety-seven healthy adults participated in a cross-sectional study with recruitment stratified according to BMI. Plasma for catecholamines and metanephrines was sampled in the fasting state, at 30-min intervals during a 120-min glucose tolerance test and during an euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp (40 mU m-2 min-1 insulin dose). Body composition was determined by leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis. Obese subjects had the lowest fasting plasma concentrations of epinephrine (NW: 0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14-0.20 nmol l-1; OW: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.12-0.19 nmol l-1; OB: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.08-0.13 nmol l-1; P=0.018) and metanephrine (NW: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.15-0.19 nmol l-1; OW: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.13-0.16 nmol l-1; OB: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.12-0.15 nmol l-1; P=0.022), the latter reflecting adrenal medullary store size. Fasting plasma epinephrine (r=-0.437; P<0.001) and metanephrine (r=-0.477; P<0.001) concentrations were additionally inversely correlated with whole-body fat percentage. Suppression of epinephrine secretion in response to carbohydrate ingestion was significantly blunted in overweight and obese subjects compared with the normal weight subjects (Pinteraction=0.045). Most of the variance in basal epinephrine was related to whole-body fat percentage (β=-0.389, 95% CI: -0.09 to -0.69; P=0.012) that explained the lower concentrations of epinephrine and metanephrine in women than men. We provide evidence that adrenomedullary dysfunction is a characteristic feature of obesity that involves both reduced adrenal secretion of epinephrine and size of adrenal medullary epinephrine stores.

Management of discarded organic produce from supermarkets and hypermarkets

This study determined the quantities, characteristics and composting of spoiled vegetables and fruits discarded daily from supermarkets and hypermarkets in an attempt to manage such wastes for resource recovery. Data from 31 supermarkets and hypermarkets in Kuwait showed that quantities of discarded produce constitute at least 10% of displayed produce daily and are not generally affected by size of store but by attitudes of shoppers. Discarded produce contains high water content (85%) is more dense (0.65 ton/m3) and have high organic content (80%) than municipal solid waste (MSW). Carbon content of discarded fruits is 42.1% while for vegetables is 41.5%. Nitrogen content of vegetables is 3.2% and for fruits is 1.9%. Pilot plant experiments on in-vessel aerobic composting of a mixture of MSW and fruit and vegetable waste at a mass ratio of 2:1 proved effective at temperatures from 35 to 65°C and optimal at 45°C, achieving VS reduction up to 40% in 30 days. Organic reduction followed a first-order kinetic model with degradation rates in the range of 0.006 to 0.01 d&minus;1 based on VS reduction. Statistical analysis showed process performance is dependent on operating temperature and type of waste organics.

Management of discarded organic produce from supermarkets and hypermarkets

This study determined the quantities, characteristics and composting of spoiled vegetables and fruits discarded daily from supermarkets and hypermarkets in an attempt to manage such wastes for resource recovery. Data from 31 supermarkets and hypermarkets in Kuwait showed that quantities of discarded produce constitute at least 10% of displayed produce daily and are not generally affected by size of store but by attitudes of shoppers. Discarded produce contains high water content (85%) is more dense (0.65 ton/m3) and have high organic content (80%) than municipal solid waste (MSW). Carbon content of discarded fruits is 42.1% while for vegetables is 41.5%. Nitrogen content of vegetables is 3.2% and for fruits is 1.9%. Pilot plant experiments on in-vessel aerobic composting of a mixture of MSW and fruit and vegetable waste at a mass ratio of 2:1 proved effective at temperatures from 35 to 65°C and optimal at 45°C, achieving VS reduction up to 40% in 30 days. Organic reduction followed a first-order kinetic model with degradation rates in the range of 0.006 to 0.01 d−1 based on VS reduction. Statistical analysis showed process performance is dependent on operating temperature and type of waste organics.

Altered Calcium Handling in Peripheral Nerve Terminals and Blood Vessels in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

The present study was designed to clarify the roles of N-type and P/Q-type calcium channels in the increased sympathetic activity of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR/Izm). We also tested in SHR/Izm the contribution to increased vascular tone of α1A adrenoceptor-linked L-type calcium channels and α1B receptor-mediated calcium mobilization from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Methods: Six-week-old SHR/Izm and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY/Izm) were used. A superior mesenteric arterial preparation was electrically stimulated before and after treatment with ω-conotoxin GVIa (N-type calcium channel blocker [CgTX]) and ω-agatoxinIVa (P/Q-type calcium channel blocker [AgaTX]). Pressor response to norepinephrine was measured before and after treatment with the α1A blocker WB-4101 and the α1B blocker chloroethyl clonidine (CEC). To determine the intracellular calcium store size, the effects of ryanodine on pressor response and caffeine-induced vascular contraction were also tested. Results: Norepinephrine overflow evoked by electrical stimulation was increased in SHR/Izm. CgTX but not AgaTX suppressed the increased NE overflow in SHR/Izm. WB-4101 suppressed the pressor response to norepinephrine in SHR/Izm but not WKY/Izm rats. CEC had no effects on pressor response to norepinephrine in both types of rats. Caffeine-induced contraction to a high potassium-induced maximal contraction ratio was reduced in SHR/Izm. The effect of ryanodine on pressor response was reduced in SHR/Izm. Conclusion: N-type calcium channels but not P/Q-type calcium channels play an important role in the increased sympathetic tone in SHR/ Izm. Although α1A adrenoceptor-linked L-type calcium channels contribute to the increased vascular tone, the intracellular calcium store size was reduced in SHR/Izm.

A Study on the Influence Factor of Traditional Marketplace Sales

Objectives: This study aims to explore theoretical base on such condition and to prepare a fundamental base of future studies. Methods/Statistical Analysis: To analyze factors influencing on the sales of traditional marketplace, survey for empirical studies on traditional market located at the old urban center of capital area where facility modernization implements have conducted. First, the market characteristics was analyzed by conducting a frequency analysis on age of merchant, business period, type of business and business item, after that, the analysis on the statistically significant influences of each variable on the sales has conducted through multiple regression analysis setting monthly sales as an independent variable and quantitative data as a dependent variable. For the dependent variables, quantitative data that can be measured objectively and dummy variable on identifiable nominal scale have utilized. Thus, the factor analysis and reliability analysis that are general research procedure have skipped. Findings: The independent variables putting a statistically significant influence on the independent variable, a sales amount, have shown to be size of store, business period, number of employees, and type of business, and customer staying time, ratio of regular customer, and age of merchant have shown to be statistically insignificant. Among statistically significant variables, the business period variable has shown to be negative (-) influence and remained variables have shown to be positive (+) influence. Especially, the reason that the size of store has shown a high standardization regression coefficient and it has shown to put significant influence on sales can be interpreted, as the demand of merchant to enlarge size of store is the most sensitive assignment to solve. In addition, the reason that business period influences negative effect (-) different from other variables can be understood that it cannot have positive influence on sales at the declined and deteriorated traditional market, and sales of merchants who have entered the market as a second mover is higher. Improvements/Applications: This study has its significance to prepare a base for future studies by analyzing influencing factors on sales of traditional market that were incomplete in previous studies. Through this study, the factors influencing on sales of traditional market, positive (+) and negative (-) effect can be identified, and it can be utilized as the fundamental data to establish political support direction of traditional market.

Exploring the Effect of Store Characteristics and Interpersonal Trust on Purchase Intention in the Context of Online Social Media Marketing

ABSTRACTThis article explores the effect of store characteristics and interpersonal trust on formation of attitude and intention to purchase from online stores in the context of online social media marketing. Store Brand Knowledge, Store Reputation, Perceived Store Size, and Perceived Store Risk have been considered as antecedents of trust. Based on existing literature, a conceptual model is proposed and empirically tested with a sample (n = 424) of online social media users with the help of partial least square path modeling. This study is among the very few empirical investigations done in the context of trust in online social media marketing and focuses only on consumer-perceived store-controlled factors as antecedents of trust.

Stimulants of Online Shopping Behaviour among Chinese Millenials in China

To survive and prosper in the China, online companies must design their operational platforms to organically adjust to changes in consumer shopping behavior. The study investigated the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence the online purchasing behavior of Chinese millennials. A cohort of university students from selected parts of the Jiangsu province provided the sample of study. Consistent with the extant literature, the research confirms that millenials are influenced by several external factors, demographic factors, personal characteristics, and vendor/service/product characteristics and websites qualities when buying online. The economic, socio-cultural, technological, and legal considerations where the main external factors that influences online shopping behavior of Chinese millenials, internet knowledge, concern for security, need specificity and disposition to trust were the main personal characteristics identified. The study also found significant association between vendor services such as real existence of the store, store reputation, store size, reliability, assurance (seals, warranties, news clips) and use of testimonials/reference have association with millennials’ purchasing intention. Similar characteristics were identified for product characteristics, service quality factors and website quality and each of these is statistically significant. Gender was determined to moderate the effect of all the factors on online shopping behavior.

Effects of Spatial Crowding on Store Loyalty: Roles of Store Size

Spatial crowding and social crowding are mutually distinctive dimensions of perceived crowding. This study investigates the sole effects of spatial crowding on store loyalty and the roles of store size in spatial crowding-store loyalty relationships. Two video clips which display different store size were recorded for the purpose of the study. An internet survey was conducted with 400 fashion brand consumers. A multiple group analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling. This study consists of three stages. The first stage tested the general effects of spatial crowding. Test results showed that, when social crowding was controlled, spatial crowding did not show negative impacts on pleasure, rather the relationship was positive. Pleasure showed positive impact on expectation and, subsequently, it led to store loyalty. Such results are opposed to a prevailing belief that retail store crowding results in negative retail outcomes. The second stage tested the role of store size. Density and social crowding were controlled as the same level in both small and large stores. In the large store, spatial crowding effected on pleasure positively, whereas, the effect was negative in the small store. The third stage revealed the mediating effect of perceived control, albeit partially. In the small store, the negative effects of spatial crowding on pleasure dropped in magnitude when perceived control was included as a mediator. Implications for practice and future research opportunities are discussed.

Estimating the Effect of Potential Entry on Market Outcomes Using a Licensure Threshold

We study the effects of potential entry on market outcomes in the context of Washington state's 2012 switch from a state-run monopoly to private liquor sales. Concern about alcohol-related crime prompted regulators to institute a 10,000 square foot licensure requirement to curtail entry. This store size threshold generates plausibly exogenous variation in the number of eligible entrants in local liquor markets across the state. We find that widening the pool of potential entrants has a small effect on pricing, but a significant effect on product offerings. In particular, markets with more potential entrants see a compositional shift in product offerings towards cheaper goods. Further, we find that the size requirement changes the composition of entrant size, rather than the aggregate number of entrants.

Modelling the optimum thermal store and biomass boiler size for a small communal heating scheme

This paper presents a study of biomass boiler and thermal store optimisation for a small communal heating scheme. Poor system sizing has been identified by the Carbon Trust and CIBSE as affecting the performance of biomass heating systems, and a review of installations under the Renewable Heat Incentive has shown that typically systems have low utilisation and are less efficient than expected. Thermal store sizing affects the boiler efficiency and a literature review has highlighted that there is little research directly addressing the subject of optimisation of a thermal store for biomass heating systems. This paper studied the problem using a transient simulation of a heating system to establish the boiler and thermal store size that gave minimum energy consumption and the optimum life cycle cost for the range of options. The model demonstrated that for the systems assessed, the smallest boiler that met the design day average load used the least energy and larger thermal stores achieved greater seasonal efficiency. However the Renewable Heat Incentive tariff structure encourages oversized boilers with low utilisation and this gives rise to low seasonal efficiencies. Practical application: This paper looks into the role of thermal stores in improving biomass boiler efficiency. It also discusses the impact on efficiency that results from decisions to oversize biomass boilers in an attempt to maximise Renewable Heat Incentive income. The conclusions will be relevant to designers of biomass systems who are weighing up the implications of different boiler outputs and heat stores with regard to overall system performance. It may also interest operators who are investigating system performance and policy makers who are looking at how the tariff system could be affecting boiler size and performance.