Healthy Corner Store Initiative

Aims to improve equitable access to healthy foods in underserved areas by partnering with independently owned local corner stores—a community gathering spots and a place where residents shop frequently. Methods include phased store conversions: inventory changes by introducing healthy food products, displaying marketing materials, and, if these two conditions are met, providing customer incentives of $100 for each year of participation. The next phase includes free business training related to selling healthy products, store conversions with equipment provision to stock and display healthy food products, and finally, certification and follow-up assistance.

The Healthy Corner Store Initiative was developed by The Food Trust, an NGO in Philadelphia, and launched in 2004 in response to limited access to healthy foods in local corner stores and high rates of diet-related diseases in low-income Philadelphia neighborhoods. It was further inspired by the success of the School Nutrition Policy Initiative (2002–2005) by The Food Trust and Temple University, which combined nutrition education with improvements in school food environments, and significantly reduced childhood overweight by 50% in 2 years. Collaborators include the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, state agencies and community organizations.

It is owned by The Food Trust and monitored by The Food Trust and Philadelphia Department of Public Health through process data (inventory changes), point-of-sale analytics and customer surveys. University partners assist impact assessment. Regular store visits ensure compliance and address ownership turnover.

It is owned by The Food Trust and monitored by The Food Trust and Philadelphia Department of Public Health through process data (inventory changes), point-of-sale analytics and customer surveys. University partners assist impact assessment. Regular store visits ensure compliance and address ownership turnover.

https://thefoodtrust.org/