Does it make sense to try working with corner stores to bring in healthier foods? Would it be more effective to focus on bringing a larger grocery store to the community?
Most people want to be able to shop at a full-service grocery store, and attracting this type of store can be a powerful way to increase access to healthy foods. However, it also is a challenging, multi-year process that involves conducting market research, identifying an appropriate site, securing financing, dealing with permits and regulations, and other complex steps. In addition, assumptions about the challenges of operating in low-income communities and under-estimates of spending power in these areas create additional barriers to supermarket development. Local and state governments and community organizations can play important roles in helping retailers address these obstacles, recognize the opportunities, and operate successfully in underserved communities. At the same time, there are a wide range of food retail formats that can help meet a community’s food needs, and it’s important to assess which are best for a given situation. Many communities have an existing base of corner
