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Crocetti AC, Cubillo Larrakia B, Walker Yorta Yorta T, Mitchell Mununjali F, Paradies Wakaya Y, Backholer K, Browne J. 'A recipe for cultural disaster!'- a case study of Woolworths Group's proposal to build an alcohol megastore in Darwin, Northern Territory. Global Health 2023; 19:38. [PMID: 37301864 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-023-00938-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The health and wellbeing impacts of commercial activity on Indigenous populations is an emerging field of research. The alcohol industry is a key driver of health and social harms within Australia. In 2016 Woolworths, the largest food and beverage retailer in Australia, proposed to build a Dan Murphy's alcohol megastore in Darwin, near three 'dry' Aboriginal communities. This study examines the tactics used by Woolworths to advance the Dan Murphy's proposal and understand how civil society action can overcome powerful commercial interests to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. METHODS Data from 11 interviews with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal informants were combined with data extracted from media articles and government, non-government and industry documents. Thematic analysis was informed by an adapted corporate health impact assessment framework. RESULTS Woolworths employed several strategies including lobbying, political pressure, litigation, and divisive public rhetoric, while ignoring the evidence suggesting the store would increase alcohol-related harm. The advocacy campaign against the proposal highlighted the importance of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups working together to counter commercial interests and the need to champion Aboriginal leadership. Advocacy strategies included elevating the voices of community Elders in the media and corporate activism via Woolworths' investors. CONCLUSIONS The strategies used by the coalition of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups may be useful in future advocacy campaigns to safeguard Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing from commercial interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Connor Crocetti
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
| | - Beau Cubillo Larrakia
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Troy Walker Yorta Yorta
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Yin Paradies Wakaya
- Deakin University, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Burwood, VIC, Australia
| | - Kathryn Backholer
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Jennifer Browne
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
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Cameron AJ, Brown A, Orellana L, Marshall J, Charlton E, Ngan WW, Ananthapavan J, Isaacs J, Blake M, Sacks G. Change in the Healthiness of Foods Sold in an Australian Supermarket Chain Following Implementation of a Shelf Tag Intervention Based on the Health Star Rating System. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14122394. [PMID: 35745125 PMCID: PMC9229209 DOI: 10.3390/nu14122394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Most people in Australia buy most of their food in supermarkets. Marketing techniques promoting healthy foods in supermarkets can be important to encourage healthy eating at a population level. Shelf tags that highlight the healthiness of products have been identified as one such promising initiative. The aim of this study was to assess changes in the healthiness of foods sold in an Australian supermarket chain following implementation of a shelf tag intervention based on the Australian Health Star Rating (HSR) system. Methods: A controlled, non-randomised trial was undertaken in seven supermarkets (intervention: n = 3; control: n = 4) of a single chain in Victoria, Australia, over 12 weeks (4 weeks baseline, 8 weeks intervention period) between August and November 2015. The intervention involved provision of a shelf tag indicating the HSR of all packaged products that scored 4.5 or 5 stars (‘high-HSR products’) using the Australian HSR system. Posters indicating the healthiness of fresh fruits and vegetables (not eligible for an HSR rating, as they are not packaged) were also installed. Weekly per store sales data were provided by the retailer. In an intention-to-treat analysis (with intervention status of individual products based on their eligibility to be tagged), the proportion (%) of all ‘high-HSR’ packaged food sold and the volume of key nutrients (saturated fat, total fat, sodium, total sugar, protein, carbohydrates and energy) per 100 g sold were assessed. Difference-in-difference analyses were conducted to determine the difference between intervention and control stores in terms of mean outcomes between baseline and intervention periods. Customer exit surveys (n = 304) were conducted to evaluate awareness and use of the shelf tags and posters. Results: The proportion of ‘high-HSR products’ sold increased in the intervention period compared to the baseline period in each of the three intervention stores (average increase of 0.49%, 95% CI: −0.02, 0.99), compared to a decrease of −0.15% (−0.46, 0.15) in control stores (p = 0.034). The overall increase in intervention compared to control stores (difference-in-difference) of 0.64% represents an 8.2% increase in the sales of ‘high-HSR products’. Sales of total sugar, total fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sodium, protein and total energy in packaged food all decreased significantly more in intervention stores compared to control stores. Sales of fresh fruits and vegetables decreased in intervention stores compared to control stores. Customer surveys found that 34.4% noticed the shelf tags. Of those who noticed the tags, 58% believed the shelf tags influenced their purchases. Conclusions: With this study, we found that the use of shelf tags that highlight the healthiest packaged foods in a supermarket setting showed promise as a mechanism to improve the healthiness of purchases. Opportunities to scale up the intervention warrant exploration, with further research needed to assess the potential impact of the intervention on overall population diets over the longer term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian J. Cameron
- Global Obesity Centre, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.M.); (E.C.); (W.W.N.); (J.A.); (J.I.); (M.B.); (G.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-39-2517-741
| | - Amy Brown
- City of Greater Bendigo Council, Bendigo, VIC 3550, Australia;
| | - Liliana Orellana
- Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3550, Australia;
| | - Josephine Marshall
- Global Obesity Centre, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.M.); (E.C.); (W.W.N.); (J.A.); (J.I.); (M.B.); (G.S.)
| | - Emma Charlton
- Global Obesity Centre, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.M.); (E.C.); (W.W.N.); (J.A.); (J.I.); (M.B.); (G.S.)
| | - Winsfred W. Ngan
- Global Obesity Centre, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.M.); (E.C.); (W.W.N.); (J.A.); (J.I.); (M.B.); (G.S.)
| | - Jaithri Ananthapavan
- Global Obesity Centre, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.M.); (E.C.); (W.W.N.); (J.A.); (J.I.); (M.B.); (G.S.)
| | - Jasmine Isaacs
- Global Obesity Centre, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.M.); (E.C.); (W.W.N.); (J.A.); (J.I.); (M.B.); (G.S.)
| | - Miranda Blake
- Global Obesity Centre, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.M.); (E.C.); (W.W.N.); (J.A.); (J.I.); (M.B.); (G.S.)
| | - Gary Sacks
- Global Obesity Centre, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (J.M.); (E.C.); (W.W.N.); (J.A.); (J.I.); (M.B.); (G.S.)
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