the ECON STUDY
Healthy Communities through Convenience
Evaluating the impact of placement regulations on the CONvenience store sector and co-creating solutions for a healthier system (ECON) study.
We will be working with convenience businesses and their customers to find workable solutions to boost the sales of healthy products in stores across England.
The Centre for Food Policy is an interdisciplinary research unit working to shape food systems that improve the health of people, society, the environment and the economy. We bring our academic expertise to bear on the big questions facing food and turn insight into action.
What are our research aims?
Evaluate
Assess the impact of placement regulations on customers’ purchases from convenience stores and on store profits.
Explore
Work out how much work the new regulations generate for local authorities in terms of enforcement and compliance.
Co-Create
Work with convenience store owners to find ways to offer healthier food options to their customers without affecting their profits.
Our Collaborators
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
Convenience stores are at the heart of local communities and offer opportunities to support health.
Small convenience stores provide easy access to food for some people who cannot easily travel to larger stores, like older adults, young people and some families living on low-incomes. Convenience stores operate different business models to larger supermarkets and have less space and resources to offer healthy ranges. Co-creating workable strategies to increase access to healthier products in small stores has the potential to improve everyone’s diet and reduce health inequalities.
Understanding and refining current legislation to work in the sector.
A new law to hinder the widespread promotion of less healthy foods was implemented in 2022. Some convenience stores need to comply with this law, but others are exempt. A detailed evaluation of how the new law affects customer purchasing, commercial viability and effective enforcement will help to improve the law and increase buy-in from smaller businesses to offer products that support the health and wellbeing of their local community.
Our Service & Advisory Partners
Contact Us
Please contact us at the following:
Centre for Food Policy,
City, University of London,
Northampton Square,
London EC1V 0HB
econ@city.ac.uk
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The Centre for Food Policy is part of City, University of London.
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