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Cross-sectional analysis of a community-based cooperative grocery store intervention in Saskatoon, Canada

  • Public Health Intervention
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Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this research is to examine the awareness and use of the Good Food Junction (GFJ), a not-for-profit full service cooperative grocery store in a former food desert in Saskatoon, Canada.

Methods

Through door-to-door sampling, 365 residents in their neighbourhoods surrounding the GFJ grocery store were recruited. Quantitative surveys examined awareness, use and primary use of GFJ, mode of transportation to and from GFJ and primary grocery stores, other food program use and demographic data. Differences between those who had or had not shopped at GFJ were characterized using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were developed to predict shopping at GFJ and the use of GFJ as a primary grocery store.

Results

Of those surveyed, 69% had shopped at GFJ. A significant proportion of shoppers were Aboriginal, had an annual household income per person of less than $20,000, and participated in other food-based programs and initiatives. Aboriginal people (OR = 2.0, p = 0.03) and users of neighbourhood-based fruit and vegetable markets (OR = 2.7, p = 0.04) were significantly more likely, but new immigrants to Canada (OR = 0.3, p = 0.05) were significantly less likely to have ever shopped at GFJ. Aboriginal respondents (OR = 2.6, p = 0.04) were significantly more likely to use GFJ as their primary grocery store.

Conclusion

Our results confirm both that GFJ is able to serve households where food insecurity is likely and, based on the prevalence of users, the importance and need for a full-service supermarket in Saskatoon’s inner city.

Résumé

Objectifs

Le but de cette étude est d’examiner dans quelle mesure Good Food Junction (GFJ), une épicerie coopérative à gamme complète de services et à but non lucratif située dans un ancien désert alimentaire de Saskatoon, au Canada, est connue et utilisée.

Méthode

Par échantillonnage de porte en porte, nous avons recruté 365 résidents des quartiers entourant l’épicerie GFJ. Nos sondages quantitatifs ont porté sur la connaissance, la fréquentation et la fréquentation principale de GFJ, le moyen de transport à destination et en provenance de GFJ et des épiceries principales, le recours à d’autres programmes d’alimentation et le profil démographique. Les différences entre les résidents fréquentant ou ne fréquentant pas GFJ ont été caractérisées à l’aide de statistiques descriptives et du test du khi-carré de Pearson. Des modèles de régression logistique univariés et multivariés ont été créés pour prédire la fréquentation de GFJ et la fréquentation de GF] comme épicerie principale.

Résultats

Des résidents sondés, 69 % fréquentaient GFJ. Une proportion significative d’acheteurs étaient Autochtones, avaient un revenu annuel du ménage inférieur à 20 000 $ par personne et participaient à d’autres programmes et initiatives alimentaires. Les Autochtones (RC = 2,0, p = 0,03) et les utilisateurs des marchés de fruits et légumes de quartier (RC = 2,7, p = 0,04) étaient de manière significative plus susceptibles (mais les nouveaux immigrants au Canada [RC = 0,3, p = 0,05] significativement moins susceptibles) d’avoir déjà fréquenté GFJ. Les répondants autochtones (RC = 2,6, p = 0,04) avaient de manière significative plus de chances d’utiliser GFJ comme épicerie principale.

Conclusions

Nos résultats confirment à la fois que GFJ est capable de servir les ménages susceptibles de souffrir d’insécurité alimentaire et, d’après la prévalence des utilisateurs, qu’un supermarché à gamme complète de services est important et nécessaire dans les quartiers déshérités du centre-ville de Saskatoon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Health Science Building, University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Road, SK, S7N 5E5, Saskatoon, Canada

    Larisa C. Lotoski MSc, Rachel Engler-Stringer PhD & Nazeem Muhajarine PhD

  2. Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit, University of Saskatchewan, SK, Saskatoon, Canada

    Rachel Engler-Stringer PhD & Nazeem Muhajarine PhD

Authors
  1. Larisa C. Lotoski MSc
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  2. Rachel Engler-Stringer PhD
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  3. Nazeem Muhajarine PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Larisa C. Lotoski MSc.

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Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Lotoski, L.C., Engler-Stringer, R. & Muhajarine, N. Cross-sectional analysis of a community-based cooperative grocery store intervention in Saskatoon, Canada. Can J Public Health 106, e147–e153 (2015). https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.106.4710

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.106.4710

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