Successful efforts at having healthier retail food depend on reliable information about retail food environments. Before implementing strategies to improve food in retail, it is necessary to assess the retail food environment to understand the extent and nature of the problem, including issues of differential access to affordable nutritious foods. Assessment should address specific questions and information gained from assessments should help prioritize and plan retail food strategies with partners, and inform decision makers where interventions may be warranted.
This resource gives a step by step action plan for developing an assessment that includes focus, planning, implementation and communication of assessment results.