Retailer Marketing Strategies and Customer Purchasing of Sweetened Beverages in Convenience Stores

Background Marketing strategies for sweetened beverages (SBs) are pervasive across food retail. Yet few studies have examined how these strategies associate with planned and unplanned SB purchasing. Objective This study aimed to examine whether customers with greater exposure to SB retail marketing (eg, advertisements and product placement) were more likely to purchase an SB and whether this varied by customer characteristics. Design This was an observational, cross-sectional study using objective customer purchasing and store assessment data from convenience and other small food stores. Participants/setting Participants were 1,604 food and beverage customers at 144 randomly sampled convenience and other small food stores in Minneapolis-St Paul, MN. Exposure Marketing strategies, including SB advertisements, placement, and shelf space were included. Main outcome measures We determined the probability of customers purchasing ≥4 fluid ounces of a ready-to-drink sugar and/or artificially sweetened beverage. Statistical analyses performed Associations between marketing strategies and purchasing were estimated using mixed regression models, controlling for customer characteristics and accounting for customers nested within stores. Results Fifty-six percent of customers purchased an SB; 14% also specified that it was an unplanned purchase. Customers were more likely to purchase an SB when exterior advertisements (P < .001) and advertisements hanging from the ceiling (P < .001) that promoted SBs were present. Customers with moderate and high cumulative exposure to SB marketing were significantly more likely to purchase SBs (51.2% and 54.9%, respectively) than those with lower exposure (34%); this effect was particularly salient for men. There were no significant associations between retail marketing strategies and unplanned purchases. Conclusions Findings demonstrate that feasible and sustainable approaches are required from policy makers, retailers, and public health professionals to shift store environments away from cues that promote unhealthy beverage selections. Given that numerous retail actors are invested in the availability, promotion, and sales of SBs, changing the predominance of SB marketing in convenience stores will likely be challenging and require cross-sector collaboration.