A cross-sectional audit of the Australian community food environment highlights the prominent role of chain food outlets

Food retail and food service outlets can be part of a chain, or independently operated. Chain food outlets are likely to have the most influence over community food environments but have not been routinely identified in studies which map and monitor access to food, highlighting an important knowledge gap. This study aimed to identify the food retail and food service outlets present within metropolitan Perth, including presence of chain and independent food outlets; and examine differences across local governments. A nutrition-focused classification framework was applied to all food businesses registered by 32 local governments in Perth, Western Australia, in 2022. All food retail and food service outlets (n = 9069) were identified and classified as part of a chain or independently operated. Chain food outlets were further classified as major or minor. Descriptive statistics summarised access to major and minor chain food outlets within metropolitan Perth and across local governments. A total of 9069 food outlets (food retail = 2908; food service = 6161) provided access to food in metropolitan Perth. Convenience stores (n = 498, 17.1%) and supermarkets (n = 441, 15.2%) were the most common food retail categories. Fast food outlets (n = 2494, 40.5%) were the most common food service category. Chains (n = 205) represented 28.5% of all food outlets present and were more prevalent in some categories (e.g., 79.6% of all supermarkets present). Across local governments the proportion of food outlets that were chains ranged from 4.9% to 43.1%. The mean density of chain food outlets was 11.62 per 10,000 population (range 2.41, 49.89). This study of the community food environment in an Australian capital city is the first to examine all food retail and food service outlets present and identify chains, using high quality data provided by local governments. The findings can be used to support evidence-based policies to improve population diets. Government policy which focuses on action within chain food outlets has potential to positively influence public health.