Is it right for supermarkets to stock sweets and chocolates at the checkouts of stores?

As a group, we recommend

We acknowledge that supermarkets have the legal right to stock products at checkouts, and we understand the profit incentives behind this practice. However, we have concerns about the health implications and the psychological manipulation of impulse buying. We believe that this practice can lead to unintended purchases and potentially contribute to health issues. Additionally, we are concerned that it may purposefully delay customers at checkout, wasting their time. While we recognize the complexity of regulating product placement in stores, we suggest exploring alternative approaches. These could include creating dedicated "healthy checkout lanes," implementing dynamic pricing based on nutritional value, or bundling treats with healthier items. We recommend that decision-makers consider these factors and explore ways to balance business interests with public health concerns and customer convenience.

Before

What's your opinion?

👤 Participant 1

Neutral

I see both sides. There are health concerns related to encouraging sales of such items + there are incentives for shops to be slower to checkout customers, on the other hand that's capitalism, and the shop needs to make a profit.

👤 Participant 2

Neutral

I hate that they play with my psyche to get me to buy snacks for a high price tag right before I'm done with my shop. I bet if they were apples I wouldnt buy them haha! But: I have to say that in some depressing days, they've given me the sugar boost I needed.

👤 Participant 3

Weak no

I feel that they have the "right" (legally) to stock sweets at the checkout and since I'm sure that it boosts profits, but I don't think it's "right" that they do so. Personally I've definitely picked up additional sweets at the grocery store from the checkout session, which isn't ideal since I wouldn't have bought it otherwise.

Some people struggle more with this impulse than others, so I'd personally prefer that grocery stores did not stock sweets at the checkout, since I feel like it does indeed promote buying more sweets.

👤 Participant 4

Weak yes

I think it would be better, for general health, especially in children, if they wouldn't. But I think it would be really hard to regulate, in such a way that you don't overregulate supermarkets. How do you decide where to put what, in general?

I'm more in favour of a health or nutriscore on products, so people can make up their own mind, and not overregulate.

During

Which statement do you prefer as the final group opinion?

After

During this exercise, did your opinion on the question change?

Explain

👤 Participant 1

I hadn't thought much about lateral approaches, like improving the information on products (due to limited time)

Is it right for supermarkets to stock sweets and chocolates at the checkouts of stores?

As a group, we recommend

Before

What's your opinion?

👤 Participant 1

👤 Participant 2

👤 Participant 3

👤 Participant 4

During

Which statement do you prefer as the final group opinion?

After

During this exercise, did your opinion on the question change?

Explain

👤 Participant 1

👤 Participant 4

After this exercise, which opinion aligns best with your current opinion?

Do you feel that your opinion had an influence on the final statement?

Other thoughts?