The Impact of Grocery Delivery Services
The Impact of Grocery Delivery Services
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, online-enabled food access services like Instacart and DoorDash emerged as vital alternatives for households facing unprecedented obstacles to grocery shopping.
We use survey data from the Detroit Metro Area Communities Study to examine the relationship between the use of online grocery and meal delivery services and factors such as transportation insecurity, household income, and technology preferences.
This project is supported by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, the U-M Population Studies Center, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
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Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay
About the Study
We fielded a survey in the Detroit Metro Area Communities Study, which is designed to represent the demographics of the City of Detroit, Michigan. Participants were asked a series of questions about their usage of online grocery delivery services, along with questions about their preferences for technologies, household income, and access to transportation.
Quantitative Approach: We use a statistical inference method known as logistic regression analysis to understand which demographic factors are associated with a higher likelihood of using online grocery delivery services.
Qualitative Approach: In addition, we use qualitative methods to study text responses from survey participants who were willing to share the benefits and drawbacks of using online grocery delivery. We analyze a total of 1,142 text responses, organizing them into broader themes that highlight the pros and cons of online grocery delivery.
Meet the Research team
Love Lundy
Love Lundy
Love Lundy studied Political Science and Food Studies at Spelman College. Lundy completed the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA JSI) Fellowship at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at U-M in the summer of 2024. She is a TEAm member at Just Add Honey Tea Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Lundy is interested in all things food, agriculture, and land policy. She is a Rackham Merit Fellow and MPP candidate at the Ford School of Public Policy.
Mapping Insights
Interactive Web Viewer
Interactive Web Viewer
Grocery Stores in the City of Detroit and Surrounding Metro Detroit Area (2024)
Grocery Stores in the City of Detroit and Surrounding Metro Detroit Area (2024)
Discover our interactive map webtool, highlighting grocery store access in the City of Detroit.
Using 2023 population estimates, this map represents driving distances from Census Block Groups to the nearest full-service grocery store. Perfect for urban planners, researchers, and community members, this tool provides valuable insights into food access. Download data from ArcGIS Online.
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