Successful healthier food retail efforts depend upon reliable information on the food retail
environment. Before implementing strategies to improve healthier food retail in your state or
community, it is necessary to assess the food retail environment to understand the extent and
nature of the problem, including disparities to accessing affordable nutritious foods. Assessments
can be tailored to address specific questions and can include topics such as identifying the
number of stores in a given location, the types of food items sold in stores, or the types of
marketing approaches that stores employ. The information gained from assessments can be used
to prioritize or plan healthier food retail strategies with partners or inform decision-makers where
interventions may be warranted.
When collecting data, make sure you follow local and federal polices related to data collection
including those related to privacy and research when applicable.