Research to boost the sales of healthy products in convenience stores
Background
Convenience stores are at the heart of their local communities. They are important to local people in their area. They are also small businesses who employ local people and need to make a profit.
Most adults in the UK do not eat a healthy diet and are living with overweight or obesity. This is making people sick and costing the NHS. Most children are also not eating a healthy diet, and many are also living with obesity. This makes it harder for them to learn and makes them unhappy and sick. The government is taking action to reduce obesity rates in both children and adults. Some actions have affected small food stores. Like the ban on selling foods that are high in fat, salt, or sugar at checkouts, aisle end and store entrances.
Not all convenience stores have to stick to this law but, there may be some knock-on effects to businesses. Our research aims to understand these impacts. There is more pressure on food businesses to produce, stock and sell healthy foods and we want to hear what store owners and managers think about the future.
Our research team would like to try to find if there are ways that are profitable for businesses to boost the sales of healthy products. We are keen to hear from people who own or run convenience stores across England.
We need your help with research aiming to boost the sales of healthy products
If you choose to work with us, you will join a small group of retailers who will advise the research team. Your expertise in running a convenience store will help us make sure our research asks the right questions that will provide answers that are useful for your sector and for governments.
We may ask for your opinion on
- How we run our research study and contact stores like yours
- What we say to store owners/managers in our study paperwork and the questions we ask
- How we share our findings with store owners/managers
Who are we looking for to become part of the retailer panel
- Convenience store owners and managers
- People who are keen to support their customers to make healthier choices but still make a profit
- People who will respect what other people say
- People who will keep what is said private
Our responsibilities to you are to
- Pay you for your time
- Provide training and ongoing support when you need it
Our public and retailer engagement lead, Mrs Preeti Dhuria will make sure you are involved as much as you want to be and will support you as you need.
Time contribution
We are asking you to spend of 1-2 hours every 3 months or so in the first year.
You can stay on longer if you like until the project ends. You can choose to stop taking part at any time without giving a reason.
What you say is private
Any personal or business details you share will remain strictly confidential. The data you give will be held only by the research team.
We will share all our study findings with you. Nothing you talk about will identify you.
Payment and expenses
We will pay you for taking part in meetings and for the time you spend reading paperwork. Payment is made at a standard rate of £25 per hour. Payments will be made in vouchers of your choice (e.g. supermarket vouchers, Amazon vouchers, Love2shop, One4all gift cards). You should get the vouchers the week after the meeting or after completing the work.
Most meetings will take place online. If there are any meetings which require travel, costs will be covered. The paperwork for all claims is just one form.
Contact details
If you are interested or would like to hear more contact Preeti Dhuria at pd@mrc.soton.ac.uk or call: 07503604343