Creating user-friendly resources for healthy food retail implementation - a case study.

Area of Science:

• Public Health Nutrition
• Health Promotion
• Food Retail Management

Background:

• Community food retail outlets play a crucial role in public health by influencing food choices.
• Small-to-medium enterprises in the food retail sector face challenges in implementing healthy food policies.
• Existing resources may not adequately support retailers in adopting healthier food offerings and promotions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usability and effectiveness of a Healthy Retail Toolkit with staff from Australian community food retail outlets.
• To gather feedback for improving the Toolkit and informing future resource development for healthy food retail initiatives.
• To provide actionable recommendations for supporting retailers in implementing healthy food policies.

Main Methods:

• Co-design of a Healthy Retail Toolkit involving retailers, public health practitioners, and researchers.
• Conducting interviews and focus groups with food outlet staff in Victoria, Australia.
• Utilizing a two-phase thematic analysis to synthesize feedback on Toolkit usability and resource development.

Main Results:

• Retail staff valued the step-by-step approach and found implementation support services helpful.
• Feedback highlighted the importance of accessible language, clear formatting, and practical case studies.
• Retailers requested a stronger emphasis on the 'business case' for healthy changes and more troubleshooting guidance.

Conclusions:

• Future resources should clearly articulate the business case for healthier food options.
• Step-by-step implementation guidance, practical tools, and case studies are essential for retailer support.
• Incorporating target audience feedback on content and format is critical for resource development effectiveness.