title: Food and beverage purchases in corner stores, gas-marts, pharmacies and dollar stores.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about customer purchases of foods and beverages from small and non-traditional food retailers (i.e. corner stores, gas-marts, dollar stores and pharmacies). The present study aimed to: (i) describe customer characteristics, shopping frequency and reasons for shopping at small and non-traditional food retailers; and (ii) describe food/beverage purchases and their nutritional quality, including differences across store type.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through customer intercept interviews. Nutritional quality of food/beverage purchases was analysed; a Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) score for purchases was created by aggregating participant purchases at each store.
  
  
  METHODS
  Small and non-traditional food stores that were not WIC-authorized in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Customers (n 661) from 105 food retailers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among participants, 29 % shopped at the store at least once daily; an additional 44 % shopped there at least once weekly. Most participants (74 %) cited convenient location as the primary draw to the store. Customers purchased a median of 2262 kJ (540 kcal), which varied by store type (P=0·04). The amount of added sugar far surpassed national dietary recommendations. At dollar stores, participants purchased a median of 5302 kJ (1266 kcal) for a median value of $US 2·89. Sugar-sweetened beverages were the most common purchase. The mean HEI-2010 score across all stores was 36·4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small and non-traditional food stores contribute to the urban food environment. Given the poor nutritional quality of purchases, findings support the need for interventions that address customer decision making in these stores.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Family Medicine and Community Health,Program in Health Disparities Research,University of Minnesota,717 Delaware Street SE,Minneapolis,MN 55414,USA.
authors.forename: Caitlin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Caspi
authors.affiliation: 2Division of Epidemiology and Community Health,University of Minnesota,Minneapolis,MN,USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lenk
authors.affiliation: 2Division of Epidemiology and Community Health,University of Minnesota,Minneapolis,MN,USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.affiliation: 2Division of Epidemiology and Community Health,University of Minnesota,Minneapolis,MN,USA.
authors.forename: Timothy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: 2Division of Epidemiology and Community Health,University of Minnesota,Minneapolis,MN,USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harnack
authors.affiliation: 2Division of Epidemiology and Community Health,University of Minnesota,Minneapolis,MN,USA.
authors.forename: Darin J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.affiliation: 2Division of Epidemiology and Community Health,University of Minnesota,Minneapolis,MN,USA.
authors.forename: Melissa N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Laska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001628:Beverages / Q000191:economics*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000191:economics*; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients
keywords: Corner store; Customer purchases; Food retail