An investigation into the availability and economic accessibility of food items in rural and urban areas of Northern Ireland

Abstract

The question of access to food has three components: physical access to food, financial access to food and access to information about food. This study explores the issue of financial access to food. The affordability of food is a major consideration for consumers, an important marketing tool for retailers and a principal theme in food policy. Research methods included a comparative shopping exercise (shopping basket analysis) in 109 stores across four towns (two urban and two rural) in Northern Ireland. Store type included multiples (major supermarket chains) and symbol group stores (those stores operating under a franchise from one main buying group). Results indicate that in the main it is cheaper to buy from the multiples, shopping from a symbol group store can incur cost penalties of up to 39.4% above the multiples’ prices. Price disparities, analysed using z‐scores, were apparent between towns and across store types. Similarly, an availability audit of foodstuffs portrayed the multiples as the most comprehensive from which to shop, whereas symbol group stores fared poorly in the availability of fresh green vegetables, carcass meat and wholemeal breads. This is an important issue because it plays an integral part in the health inequality debate and also relates to social exclusion. Fundamentally, financial access to food impinges upon the whole question of food‐purchasing behaviour in terms of accessibility, affordability and availability. Therefore, economic access to food can be used as a useful precursor to a comprehensive analysis of food access in its entirety. It is also useful as an indicator of social exclusion. This study seeks to inform and influence the food policy debate.

Assessing the relevance of neighbourhood characteristics to the household food security of low-income Toronto families

“…It has been argued that transportation costs can impinge upon the cash available for food (10,(48)(49)(50) and that local food access within walking distance is particularly important for those living in low-income areas (15) . Our results suggest that the demands associated with grocery shopping for poor families are more complex.…”

Rights-based approaches to addressing food poverty and food insecurity in Ireland and UK

“…In terms of environmental determinants of food access -how far people have to travel, to which shops, and the range and price of commodities available in them -research in both countries has examined the challenges posed (e.g. Furey et al, 2001;Wrigley et al, 2002;Dawson et al, 2008); the part physical access to food contributes to poorer people's dietary choices is subject to debate (see White, 2007;Dowler et al, 2007;Beaulac et al, 2009; among others).…”

Voluntary simplicity: an exploration of market interactions

“…Although previous research has documented higher levels of out shopping in rural areas, except among the elderly and financially and car deprived (Broadbridge and Calderwood, 2002), participants in the current study supported local stores for community and ethical reasons which include environmental concerns. Participants did not view price as a barrier as has been reported elsewhere (Furey, Farley and Strugnell, 2002); instead, participants expected to pay more for ethical alternatives such as organic, locally produced and vegetarian products when available.…”