Characterizing the food environment in Scotland and its association with deprivation: A national study

To characterize food outlets across Scotland and analyze their distribution by neighborhood deprivation.

Data from the Food Standards Agency of all registered food businesses in 2024 were categorized as out-of-home (OOH) [including restaurants, pubs, cafés, and takeaways], retail [supermarkets and non-food retailers like pharmacies with limited food items] or other [mobile caterers, charity organizations, and home caterers]. Neighborhood deprivation was quantified using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Of all food outlets, 59 % (n = 18,409) were OOH, 28 % (n = 8757) retail, and 13 % (n = 3969) other. The density of OOH (1.9 per km²) was more than double that of retail (0.8 per km²). Glasgow City had the highest OOH outlet density (18.5 per km²). Argyll and Bute, Western Isles, and Highlands had the lowest density of both OOH and retail (≤0.03 per km²). Compared to the most deprived neighborhoods, the least deprived neighborhoods had more Restaurants/cafés/canteens (37 % versus 23 % of food outlets, respectively) and fewer Takeaways/sandwich shops (16 % versus 24 % of food outlets, respectively).

Though OOH outlets far outnumber retail in all of Scotland, unique food environments exist in different local authorities. These insights can inform local development and support targeted strategies to improve food environments.