Soft Drink Storage among Retailers in Dar es Salaam Tanzania: Examining Practices, Knowledge, and Key Determinants

Soft drink storage practices impact product quality and consumer safety. This study examines storage practices, knowledge, and factors influencing adherence to proper storage guidelines among retailers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A cross-sectional survey of 329 retailers in Kinondoni and Ubungo municipalities was conducted using semi-structured interviews and direct observations. More respondents were male (55.04%), than female (44.96%). The majority of retailers were between 25-40 (53.19%) whereas, secondary and primary education levels dominated among participants (43.77% and 41.95%, respectively). Only 2.74% of retailers were aware of proper storage guidelines provided by a Coca-Cola supplier and none (0%) of the retailers knew of any formal government regulation governing proper storage. Logistic regression analysis assessed the effects of education, business setup, experience, sex, and district on storage practices. Shop-based retailers were significantly more likely to practice proper storage than street vendors (p < 0.001), emphasizing the role of infrastructure. Male retailers were more likely to comply than females (p = 0.020), indicating gender disparities. Education and experience did not significantly impact storage practices (p > 0.05), suggesting economic constraints are stronger determinants. Key challenges for proper storage included financial limitations (64.13%), limited space (21.28%), and unreliable electricity (18.24%). Storage behavior is primarily driven by business structure and financial constraints rather than individual knowledge. Policy interventions should support street vendors with affordable refrigeration, financial assistance, and targeted training to enhance compliance and food safety.