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Despite its close proximity to downtown, East Austin is one of the underprivileged and under-developed areas in the City of Austin. Ethnic minorities and low-income persons in inner-city areas often lack access to big box retail due to these stores being disproportionately located outside of their neighborhoods. The aim of this study is to identify the current accessibility of big box retail for East Austin’s residents in order to confirm the potential impacts of big box retail growth on minority and lowincome populations. Using GIS-based network analysis, it is possible to measure whether the residents in East Austin have equal access to big box retail stores, as compare to other Austin areas. Although residents in East Austin have greater accessibility to other neighborhood-type retail like drug stores, small-format value stores, and supermarkets, they must travel farther to access community-type retail like home improvement stores,department stores, large-format value stores. Moreover, these populations have access to fewer cars, and must rely on public transit. Socio-economic characteristics of East Austin include a high percentage of individuals living below the poverty line, high disability rates, low to no vehicle ownership, and high percentages of female headed households. Finally, the study proposes new mixed-use, mixed-income development models as a way to improve retail access to minority and low-income population. / text

On average, low-income individuals have poorer diet quality compared to their high-income counterparts. However, improved food access may offer opportunities to improve diet among this population. This study examines how the low-income population navigates between barriers, resources, and opportunities to acquire healthy foods in different settings. Chapter 3 examined how the use of a farmers’ market incentive program among the low-income population impacts F&V consumption. We observed no effect on F&V consumption due to program participation but users of the program have a significantly higher F&V consumption than non-users. Chapter 4 identified transportation difficulties as a barrier to the uptake of farmer’s market incentive program and that larger families may be less likely to take advantage of opportunities provided by farmer’s market incentive programs. Chapter 5 examined the association between factors that influence food choices (taste, price, convenience, concern for nutrition, and concern for weight) and food access and availability in the home. We found that certain behaviors (concern for nutrition) exhibited within the food purchase environment may impact food access and availability in the home. We conclude that more efforts and interventions that target improving consumer’s perceived importance for nutrition and transportation access to food resources are needed; especially among low-income population with low F&V consumption. In addition, information and financial access to food resource opportunities should be expanded, specifically among those with low F&V consumption and expanding the food incentives for larger families should be considered.

Les populations défavorisées sont souvent peu réceptives aux messages de santé publiques, perçus comme trop complexes et peu adaptés. De nombreuses interventions nutritionnelles ont été menées, y compris en magasin, mais l’impact de ces interventions sur les comportements d’achats reste peu convaincant. L’utilisation des principes et des techniques issus du marketing pourrait constituer une stratégie efficace pour développer des interventions adaptées à ces populations.L’objectif de cette thèse était de développer, mettre en oeuvre et évaluer une intervention nutritionnelle dans deux magasins dans les quartiers Nord de Marseille, selon la méthode du marketing social. Pendant 6 mois, une sélection d’aliments peu coûteux et de bonne qualité nutritionnelle ont été mis en avant via un étiquetage en rayon, soutenu par une campagne de communication et des actions promotionnelles en magasin : dépliants, affiches, tête de gondole, stand de dégustation. L’analyse des achats des clients a montré un effet positif de l’intervention sur l’achat de féculents et de fruits et légumes. Un questionnaire rapide à la sortie des magasins a montré que 31 % des clients ont remarqué l’opération, et que ce pourcentage était plus élevé à la fin de l’intervention. Un questionnaire plus approfondi a montré que les clients ayant remarqué l’intervention obtenaient des scores plus élevés à un quiz sur la nutrition et comprenaient mieux le système d’étiquetage que les clients ne l’ayant pas vue.Bien que ces résultats soient plutôt encourageants, un certain nombre de questions demeurent, en particulier sur la temporalité du changement de comportement, l’importance de la segmentation de la cible et la prise en compte des comportements irrationnels et inconscients dans le marketing social. / Low-income populations are often unreceptive to public health messages that may be perceived as too complex and poorly adapted. Many nutrition interventions have been conducted, including store-based interventions, but their impact on purchase behaviors is not convincing. The use of marketing principles and techniques could be an effective strategy for developing interventions adapted to these populations.The objective of this PhD was to develop, implement and evaluate a nutrition intervention in two stores in the northern districts of Marseille (France), using a social marketing approach. For six months, a selection of inexpensive foods of good nutritional quality was promoted through shelf labeling, supported by a communication campaign and in-store promotional actions: leaflets, posters, endcap placement, tasting booth. Analysis of customer purchases showed a positive effect of the intervention on the purchases of starchy foods and fruits and vegetables. An exit survey revealed that 31% of customers had seen the intervention, and that this rate was higher at the end of the intervention. A more in-depth survey showed that customers who saw the intervention scored higher on a quiz about nutrition and had better understanding of the labeling system than did customers who had not seen the intervention.Although these results are rather encouraging, questions remain, in particular about the temporality of behavioral change, the importance of target segmentation and the consideration of irrational and unconscious behavior in social marketing.