Cornering the Market: Restriction of Retail Supermarket Locations

Nairne Cameron, Carl G Amrhein, Karen E Smoyer-Tomic, Kim D Raine and Lee Yen Chong
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Nairne Cameron: Department of Geography and Geology, Algoma University, 1520 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2G4, Canada
Carl G Amrhein: Faculty of Science, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2ES, Canada
Karen E Smoyer-Tomic: Department of Geography, University of Delaware, 216 Pearson Hall, Newark, DE 19716, USA
Kim D Raine: Centre for Health Promotion Studies, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 5-10 University Terrace, 8303-112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2T4, Canada
Lee Yen Chong: University of Alberta, 5-10 University Terrace, 8303-112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2T4, Canada

Environment and Planning C, 2010, vol. 28, issue 5, 905-922

Abstract: A major source of healthy foods, North American supermarkets have become larger in recent years, with new stores opening and older stores closing. Upon closure, there is evidence of some supermarket sites being placed under restrictive covenants, a practice that restricts future use of the site. The purpose is usually to limit food sales at the location, thus minimizing competition for a chain's nearby stores. In Edmonton, Alberta eighteen covenants have been documented on former supermarket sites. At six of these sites, termed food desolated , there is no operating supermarket within walking distance (800 m) of the former stores. The covenants disproportionately affect senior citizens as neighbourhoods with covenants have a significantly higher percentage of seniors than those neighbourhoods without covenants. Results of a group interview with community leaders from a neighbourhood that lost a supermarket and historical case study also point to the restrictive covenants resulting in difficulties for seniors accessing healthy food.

Date: 2010
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envirc:v:28:y:2010:i:5:p:905-922

DOI: 10.1068/c0915

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