Healthcare Policy

Healthcare Policy 21(1) November 2025 : 52-71.doi:10.12927/hcpol.2025.27741
Research Paper

Healthy Grocery Shopping Incentives in Canada: A Survey of How, How Much, and How Often

Amrit Thandi, Dennis B. Campbell, David J.T. Campbell, Anita Quach, Charlene Mo, Dana Lee Olstad, Eldon Spackman and Reed F. Beall

Abstract

Background: Financial incentives may improve diet quality and reduce food insecurity, but how incentives align with population preferences for delivery (mode, structure) and shopping habits (frequency, spending) remains unclear.

Methods: A July 2022 cross-sectional survey of 1,601 Canadian adults (excluding Quebec) examined incentive preferences, shopping frequency and healthy food spending shortfalls using Poisson and generalized linear models.

Results: Weekly instant loyalty card discounts were most preferred. The median spending gap was $12.50 (mean $21.48), with food-insecure participants reporting the largest gaps.

Conclusion: Aligning incentive design with population preferences and shopping habits may enhance uptake. Higher-value incentives may be needed to more fully engage food-insecure populations

 

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