Supermarket Store Locations as a Proxy for Neighbourhood Health, Wellbeing, and Wealth

The “Waitrose effect” captures the notion that presence of stores operated by Waitrose, an upmarket UK grocer, increases value nearby real estate. This paper considers broader relationship between Waitrose store locations and neighbourhood type comparing health wealth neighbourhoods with without access to in England. Whilst we do not seek imply causality, demonstrate better health, wellbeing, falling within a catchment. In those neighbourhoods, median home prices were almost 2.5 times higher (in urban neighbourhoods) compared served only other major grocers, which formed our control groups. Neighbourhoods catchment areas fare on indicators too. (accounting for 98% neighbourhoods), residents are more likely self-report very good than largest prevalence mood anxiety disorders is also significantly lower Our findings strongly suggest or absence specific retailer this case, mature well-established chain) could serve as proxy characteristics. supplement existing multivariate type. We recommend research identify extent single retail chain—across variety sectors—can encode wealth. If patterns observed hold true retailers, then mix given locality useful type, potential change highlight changes characteristics composition.