Healthy bodegas: increasing and promoting healthy foods at corner stores in New York City.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the effectiveness of an initiative to increase the stock and promotion of healthy foods in 55 corner stores in underserved neighborhoods.


METHODS
We evaluated the intervention through in-store observations and preintervention and postintervention surveys of all 55 store owners as well as surveys with customers at a subset of stores.


RESULTS
We observed an average of 4 changes on a 15-point criteria scale. The most common were placing refrigerated water at eye level, stocking canned fruit with no sugar added, offering a healthy sandwich, and identifying healthier items. Forty-six (84%) store owners completed both surveys. Owners reported increased sales of healthier items, but identified barriers including consumer demand and lack of space and refrigeration. The percentage of customers surveyed who purchased items for which we promoted a healthier option (low-sodium canned goods, low-fat milk, whole-grain bread, healthier snacks and sandwiches) increased from 5% to 16%.


CONCLUSIONS
Corner stores are important vehicles for access to healthy foods. The approach described here achieved improvements in participating corner stores and in some consumer purchases and may be a useful model for other locales.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NY, USA. rdannefe@health.nyc.gov
Rachel
R
Dannefer
Donya A
DA
Williams
Sabrina
S
Baronberg
Lynn
L
Silver
D003132:Commerce; D003625:Data Collection; D058870:Food, Organic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006293:Health Promotion; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City; D036301:Qualitative Research