BACKGROUND: The current food environment has a high prevalence of nutrient-sparse foods and beverages, most starkly seen in vending machine offerings. There are currently few studies that explore different interventions that might lead to healthier vending machine purchases. OBJECTIVE: To examine how healthier product availability, price reductions, and/or promotional signs affect sales and revenue of snack and beverage vending machines. DESIGN: A 2×2×2 factorial randomized controlled trial was conducted. PARTICIPANTS/ SETTING: Students, staff, and employees on a university campus. INTERVENTION: All co-located snack and beverage vending machines (n=56, 28 snack and 28 beverage) were randomized into one of eight conditions: availability of healthier products and/or 25% price reduction for healthier items and/or promotional signs on machines. Aggregate sales and revenue data for the 5-month study period (February to June 2015) were compared with data from the same months 1 year prior. Analyses were conducted July 2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The change in units sold and revenue between February through June 2014 and 2015. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Linear regression models (main effects and interaction effects) and t test analyses were performed. RESULTS: The interaction between healthier product guidelines and promotional signs in snack vending machines documented increased revenue (P<0.05). Beverage machines randomized to meet healthier product guidelines documented increased units sold (P<0.05) with no revenue change. Price reductions alone had no effect, nor were there any effects for the three-way interaction of the factors. Examining top-selling products for all vending machines combined, pre- to postintervention, we found an overall shift to healthier purchasing. CONCLUSIONS: When healthier vending snacks are available, promotional signs are also important to ensure consumers purchase those items in greater amounts. Mitigating potential loss in profits is essential for sustainability of a healthier food environment.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The current food environment has a high prevalence of nutrient-sparse foods and beverages, most starkly seen in vending machine offerings. There are currently few studies that explore different interventions that might lead to healthier vending machine purchases. OBJECTIVE: To examine how healthier product availability, price reductions, and/or promotional signs affect sales and revenue of snack and beverage vending machines. DESIGN: A 2×2×2 factorial randomized controlled trial was conducted. PARTICIPANTS/ SETTING: Students, staff, and employees on a university campus. INTERVENTION: All co-located snack and beverage vending machines (n=56, 28 snack and 28 beverage) were randomized into one of eight conditions: availability of healthier products and/or 25% price reduction for healthier items and/or promotional signs on machines. Aggregate sales and revenue data for the 5-month study period (February to June 2015) were compared with data from the same months 1 year prior. Analyses were conducted July 2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The change in units sold and revenue between February through June 2014 and 2015. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Linear regression models (main effects and interaction effects) and t test analyses were performed. RESULTS: The interaction between healthier product guidelines and promotional signs in snack vending machines documented increased revenue (P<0.05). Beverage machines randomized to meet healthier product guidelines documented increased units sold (P<0.05) with no revenue change. Price reductions alone had no effect, nor were there any effects for the three-way interaction of the factors. Examining top-selling products for all vending machines combined, pre- to postintervention, we found an overall shift to healthier purchasing. CONCLUSIONS: When healthier vending snacks are available, promotional signs are also important to ensure consumers purchase those items in greater amounts. Mitigating potential loss in profits is essential for sustainability of a healthier food environment.
Authors: Peter von Philipsborn; Jan M Stratil; Jacob Burns; Laura K Busert; Lisa M Pfadenhauer; Stephanie Polus; Christina Holzapfel; Hans Hauner; Eva A Rehfuess Journal: Obes Facts Date: 2020-08-12 Impact factor: 3.942
Authors: Bradley M Appelhans; Simone A French; Tamara Olinger; Michael Bogucki; Imke Janssen; Elizabeth F Avery-Mamer; Lisa M Powell Journal: Appetite Date: 2018-03-15 Impact factor: 3.868
Authors: Gareth J Hollands; Patrice Carter; Sumayya Anwer; Sarah E King; Susan A Jebb; David Ogilvie; Ian Shemilt; Julian P T Higgins; Theresa M Marteau Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2019-09-04
Authors: Gareth J Hollands; Patrice Carter; Sumayya Anwer; Sarah E King; Susan A Jebb; David Ogilvie; Ian Shemilt; Julian P T Higgins; Theresa M Marteau Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2019-08-27
Authors: Peter von Philipsborn; Jan M Stratil; Jacob Burns; Laura K Busert; Lisa M Pfadenhauer; Stephanie Polus; Christina Holzapfel; Hans Hauner; Eva Rehfuess Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2019-06-12