Supermarket voluntary price promotion ban: a public health study

Imagine your favourite supermarket stops offering 'buy one get one free' deals on fizzy drinks, biscuits, or sugary cereals. This study is looking at exactly that scenario. In the UK, a lot of people eat too many foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt, which can lead to health problems like obesity. One reason for this is that these foods are often on special offer, making them seem cheaper. Governments are thinking about stopping these kinds of offers to help people eat healthier.

However, it's not as simple as it sounds. Some people rely on special offers to save money on their weekly food shop, so stopping them could make groceries more expensive. Also, supermarkets might find other ways to sell unhealthy foods, or there could be effects on jobs and taxes. This study has a unique chance to learn from two supermarkets that have already decided to stop these offers voluntarily. By looking at what happened before and after in these shops, and comparing them to others, researchers can see the real effects.

The project will involve several steps. Firstly, they will look at existing data from market research companies to see if people's shopping habits changed – what foods they bought, and if they spent more or less money. Secondly, they'll use this information to guess how these changes might affect public health and even the cost to the NHS. Thirdly, they will investigate how stopping promotions affected the two supermarkets and the companies that supply them. Lastly, researchers will speak to shoppers like you to hear your experiences and views on these changes. All these pieces of information will be put together to give a full picture of what happens when special offers on unhealthy foods are removed.