Recreation centre managers ’ perceptions of pricing interventions to promote healthy eating

AbstractRetailers have the capacity to improve the food and beverage environment by making healthier options more affordable and attractive for their consumers. The perspectives of retailers on feasible and acceptable pricing strategies are not known. The aim of this study was to understand retailers ’ perceptions of factors that are relevant to feasible and acceptable health-promoting food and beverage pricing interventions. A convenience sample of 11 aquatic and recreation centre managers in Victoria, Australia was recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. We took a pragmatic a pproach with the aim of understanding retailers’ perceptions of factors that affect the feasibility and acceptability of pricing interventions within their facilities. Thematic analysis was used to synthesize and interpret retailers’ perceptions of pricing interventions. Key themes identified we re: structural and organizational characteristics (the internal and external characteristics of aquatic and recreation centres), characteristics of feasible pricing changes (type, magnitude and products targeted by pricing strategies) and business outcomes (profits and customer feedback). Results su ggest that pricing interventions to promote healthy food and beverage choices can be feasible and acceptable to retailers, though contextual considerations are likely to be important. Future studies should use these findings to design interventions most likely to be acceptable to retailers, wor...
Source: Health Promotion International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research