PHASE 3 (In-depth interviews with retailers)

• To identify the factors that influence retailers' decisions on stocking policy
• To explore the perceptions and attitudes of food retailers towards food retail policies and opportunities facilitating the supply of healthy food
• To explore gender-related issues from the perspective of food retailers

This phase involved a qualitative data collection process utilizing semi-structured in-depth interviews with representatives of the different types of retailers (based on the findings in Phase 1 & 2) located in each study location.

• In each country, at least 14 candidates for interviews (i.e., food retailers at a convenience store, supermarket, or hypermarket) were recruited through telephone or email.
• Eligible respondents have the authority in making procurement, retail, and product placement decisions, and should have at least one-year experience in his/her position at the retail food outlet or head office.
• After completing at least 14 interviews, it was deemed appropriate to conclude and has reached data saturation (Hennink & Kaiser, 2022).
• The interviews explored the following topics:
1. The source of food being sold;
2. Factors in the food environment that facilitate or hamper the supply of healthy/unhealthy food and influence a retailer's stocking decision;
3. Perceived effect of disruptions (e.g., an epidemic, typhoon, earthquake) on the supply of healthy/unhealthy food;
4. Factors that impede or enhance response capacity to food supply disruptions;
5. Perceptions of customer preferences; and
6. Gender-related issues in food retail.