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Washington—Food Systems for the Future (FSF), a nonprofit organization addressing global malnutrition through economically sustainable and climate-conscious solutions, has published the report "Grocery Retail for All: Affordable, Nutritious Food in Every Neighborhood."
The report explores ways to tackle the ongoing challenges grocery retailers encounter in low-income urban and rural areas across the United States. It highlights solutions, collaborative opportunities, and policy recommendations to ensure that nutritious food is affordable and accessible for all.
It is based on in-depth interviews with forty-five grocers and twenty-two industry experts and an analysis of peer-reviewed and gray literature. FSF’s findings illuminate strategies that enhance grocery retail success. Key insights were refined with feedback from grocery retail advisors and developed in partnership with renowned organizations like The Food Trust, Reinvestment Fund, Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and The Global Food Institute at George Washington University.
Key insights from the report
Customer-Centric Differentiation: Successful grocery stores thrive by defining clear, unique value propositions for their customer base, extending beyond price competition alone.
Operational Efficiency: In various contexts, successful grocers implement 12 shared strategies focusing on customer care and operational optimization to ensure continued affordability and access.
Policy Impact: While current federal, state, and local policies contribute to increased access to nutritious food, the report highlights substantial opportunities to broaden their reach and effectiveness.
Despite considerable progress, challenges persist. The report urges innovation to address diverse definitions of grocery retail success and to enhance strategies for promoting and selling healthy foods. Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, CEO and Managing Director of FSF emphasized the necessity of collective action:
"Ensuring affordable, nutritious food for all requires more than awareness; it demands action, partnership, finance and a commitment to serve. This report marks an important step forward in advancing grocery retail solutions for America’s underserved rural and urban communities."
According to FSF, the findings provide a framework for policymakers, funders, and researchers to assist grocers in combating food insecurity through sustainable operations. FSF’s recommendations advocate for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, including government, community organizations, and independent grocers, to fortify the nation’s food systems.
For more details, read the full report here.
