Food security, remoteness and consolidation of supermarket distribution centres: Factors contributing to food pricing inequalities across Queensland, Australia
Article
Article Title | Food security, remoteness and consolidation of supermarket distribution centres: Factors contributing to food pricing inequalities across Queensland, Australia |
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ERA Journal ID | 2002 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Singh-Peterson, Lila (Author), Lieske, Scott (Author), Underhill, Steven J. R. (Author) and Keys, Noni (Author) |
Journal Title | Australian Geographer |
Journal Citation | 47 (1), pp. 89-102 |
Number of Pages | 14 |
Year | 2016 |
Publisher | Taylor & Francis |
Place of Publication | United Kingdom |
ISSN | 0004-9182 |
1465-3311 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/00049182.2015.1093700 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00049182.2015.1093700 |
Abstract | There is a clear association between food prices, affordability and issues of food security. Australian food supply chains have lengthened in recent years in response to consolidation policies of the dominant supermarkets, which have reduced the number of distribution centres in order to maximise economic efficiencies. This study presents a spatial analysis of a healthy food basket survey undertaken across Queensland, Australia in order to identify the primary determinants of food pricing. Ambiguity in the academic literature on this subject is largely due to limitations of the utilised methods. Our results indicate that food price variability is directly related to the type of store surveyed, and the distance of the surveyed store to the supermarket distribution centres in Brisbane, or urban centres on the east coast of Australia. Population size of towns and the level of social disadvantage observed in communities were indirect determinants of food prices. Therefore, in order to lessen the disadvantage already encountered by communities located in outer regional and remote areas who pay increasingly more for food than their urban counterparts, policy interventions need to move beyond subsiding food costs and consider the relationship between fuel prices and the lengthening of dominant food supply chains, in addition to the capacity of local supply chains. |
Keywords | Food supply chain; Food security; Food miles; Food distribution; Econometric spatial analysis; Distribution centre consolidation |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 410103. Human impacts of climate change and human adaptation |
300210. Sustainable agricultural development | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | University of the Sunshine Coast |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q7051/food-security-remoteness-and-consolidation-of-supermarket-distribution-centres-factors-contributing-to-food-pricing-inequalities-across-queensland-australia
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