A cross-sectional audit of the Australian community food environment highlights the prominent role of chain food outlets

Food retail and food service outlets can be part of a chain, or independently operated. Chain food outlets are likely to have the most influence over community food environments but have not been routinely identified in studies which map and monitor access to food, highlighting an important knowledge gap. This study aimed to identify the food retail and food service outlets present within metropolitan Perth, including presence of chain and independent food outlets; and examine differences across local governments.

Citation:
Pulker CE, Butcher LM, Klug F, Whitton C, Trapp GSA. A cross-sectional audit of the Australian community food environment highlights the prominent role of chain food outlets. Discov Food. 2025;5(1).

Keywords:
Food chains; Community food environment; Fast food; Supermarket; Nutrition policy; Food outlets; Public health nutrition; Local government

Abstract:
Food retail and food service outlets can be part of a chain, or independently operated. Chain food outlets are likely to have the most influence over community food environments but have not been routinely identified in studies which map and monitor access to food, highlighting an important knowledge gap. This study aimed to identify the food retail and food service outlets present within metropolitan Perth, including presence of chain and independent food outlets; and examine differences across local governments.