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Healthy versus Unhealthy Suppliers in Food Desert Neighborhoods: A Network Analysis of Corner Stores’ Food Supplier Networks

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  • Yeeli Mui

    (Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC) at Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
    Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Bruce Y. Lee

    (Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC) at Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
    Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Atif Adam

    (Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC) at Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Anna Y. Kharmats

    (Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC) at Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Nadine Budd

    (Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Claudia Nau

    (Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC) at Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Joel Gittelsohn

    (Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC) at Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
    Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

Abstract

Background : Products in corner stores may be affected by the network of suppliers from which storeowners procure food and beverages. To date, this supplier network has not been well characterized. Methods : Using network analysis, we examined the connections between corner stores ( n = 24) in food deserts of Baltimore City (MD, USA) and their food/beverage suppliers ( n = 42), to determine how different store and supplier characteristics correlated. Results : Food and beverage suppliers fell into two categories: Those providing primarily healthy foods/beverages ( n = 15) in the healthy supplier network (HSN) and those providing primarily unhealthy food/beverages ( n = 41) in the unhealthy supplier network (UHSN). Corner store connections to suppliers in the UHSN were nearly two times greater ( t = 5.23, p < 0.001), and key suppliers in the UHSN core were more diverse, compared to the HSN. The UHSN was significantly more cohesive and densely connected, with corner stores sharing a greater number of the same unhealthy suppliers, compared to HSN, which was less cohesive and sparsely connected ( t = 5.82; p < 0.001). Compared to African Americans, Asian and Hispanic corner storeowners had on average −1.53 ( p < 0.001) fewer connections to suppliers in the HSN ( p < 0.001). Conclusions : Our findings indicate clear differences between corner stores’ HSN and UHSN. Addressing ethnic/cultural differences of storeowners may also be important to consider.

Suggested Citation

  • Yeeli Mui & Bruce Y. Lee & Atif Adam & Anna Y. Kharmats & Nadine Budd & Claudia Nau & Joel Gittelsohn, 2015. "Healthy versus Unhealthy Suppliers in Food Desert Neighborhoods: A Network Analysis of Corner Stores’ Food Supplier Networks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:12:p:14965-15074:d:59587
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    References listed on IDEAS

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