Exploring value co-creation in public health: factors influencing collaborative development of a food retailers’ toolkit from multi-stakeholder perspectives

In public health, collaborative efforts aimed at improving food environments have gained momentum, yet the subtleties of value co-creation remain underexamined. Value co-creation is defined as the shared value generated by a group of participants through interactions. This study explores the perspectives of multiple stakeholders involved in developing a Toolkit designed to assist food retailers in implementing healthy food policies. Six semi-structured interviews were conducted with collaborators between August and September 2023 and analyzed using thematic analysis guided by a value co-creation framework. The interview data yielded 12 subthemes, grouped into three themes for reporting: 1) partner engagement, which includes factors fostering an interactive atmosphere; 2) partner capabilities, reflecting the networks, skills, and knowledge essential for successful collaboration; and 3) partner experience, which emphasizes the benefits and learning valued during the Toolkit’s development. Results showed that effective communication, transparency, and leadership are key drivers of collaborative success, whereas challenges included workload management and the need for clear governance structures. Comparisons with existing literature highlight the importance of these factors in fostering sustainable partnerships within public health initiatives. The findings stress the need for organizations to adopt co-creation as standard practice and recommend establishing strong frameworks to support ongoing collaboration. Additionally, further research is needed to deepen the understanding of the complexities involved in multi-partner interactions and their implications for policy implementation in food retail settings. This study offers valuable insights to enhance future public health initiatives through effective co-creation strategies.