Highlights

• Effects of supermarkets on child nutrition analyzed with panel data from Kenya.

• Supermarket food purchases increase height-for-age and weight-for age Z-scores.

• Effects on child height are larger than effects on child weight.

• Supermarkets do not contribute to child obesity in this setting.

• Positive nutrition effects channeled through improvements in dietary diversity.

Abstract

In many developing countries, supermarkets are spreading rapidly, complementing and partly replacing traditional food markets and grocery stores. Changing retail environments can affect consumer diets and nutritional outcomes. Previous research suggested that supermarkets may contribute to rising rates of obesity. However, most existing research looked at adult populations. Here, we analyze effects of supermarkets on child nutrition with panel data from urban Kenya. Buying food in supermarkets increases child height-for-age, weight-for-age, and weight-for-height Z-scores. The effects on child height are larger than the effects on weight, which is a welcome finding because child stunting (low height-for-age) remains a major nutritional problem that is declining more slowly than child underweight. Supermarkets do not seem to be a driver of childhood obesity in this setting. The positive effects of supermarkets on child nutrition are channeled through improvements in food variety and dietary diversity.