Retail & Marketing
Retail environments and food marketing are powerful forces that shape what, where, and how people eat.
Our research has examined how food placement, pricing strategies, promotions, and advertising influence consumer behavior and dietary patterns. We examine differences in food marketing across neighborhoods and assess the impact of interventions such as healthy retail initiatives and marketing restrictions. By analyzing the intersection of consumer psychology, industry practices, and policy, we aim to identify strategies that make healthy, affordable foods more accessible and appealing to all.
Policy Questions
Does marketing influence children’s food perceptions and choices?
When children aged 4-6 were offered identical snacks, those packaged with popular licensed cartoon characters were more likely to be rated as tasting better—even though the food inside was the same.
Given a choice, most of these children selected the snack with the licensed character for their snack. The effect was strongest for energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods (like gummy snacks and graham crackers), and weaker for healthier options (like carrots).
Do retailers market sugary drinks differently based on the timing of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program?
Retailers increase marketing of sugary drinks during the first days of the month when SNAP benefits are issued, especially in neighborhoods with higher SNAP enrollment, while marketing of healthier beverages does not change. This suggests that retailers strategically time promotions to coincide with when SNAP participants are most able to purchase, potentially exacerbating unhealthy consumption patterns.
Impacts & Key Findings
4-6 years
When children aged 4-6 were offered identical snacks, those packaged with popular licensed cartoon characters were more likely to be rated as tasting better, even though the food inside was the same.
