Addressing a significant but neglected topic, this book focuses on the social dimensions of food production, distribution and retailing. It examines retailing in recent years, where corporate retailers have expanded their powers over the food supply system and the social, political and moral concern about consumption has grown considerable. The authors expand and reinforce the idea that corporate retailing in Britain can only maintain its dominant market position through the exercise of political and social activities within national state and market structures.
The book also goes beyond the study of food choice per se to look at broader questions: Why does the out-of-town location and neo-classical design of your local Sainsburys matter? How can the state best regulate food provision given its priorities to de-regulate the economy but encourage the health of the nation? How are consumers best represented through state, market or interest group activities? Consuming Interests will be of interest to researchers and students of public policy, planning, food studies, sociology and human geography and to professionals in public policy and the food section.
