Case Study: University of Toronto analyzes COVID grocery shopping shifts with Foursquare

University of Toronto, Flipp, and understanding the impact of COVID on grocery shopping patterns

The University of Toronto partnered with Foursquare and its Pilgrim SDK to test its assumptions on how the COVID-19 pandemic changed grocery shopping behaviors. The challenge was to understand if people were shopping closer to home, at fewer stores, and less frequently, and to determine how these changes impacted different population segments.

Using Foursquare's geospatial data, the study found that the pandemic did decrease the distance traveled and the variety of stores visited. Importantly, the research revealed a disproportionate negative effect on lower-income populations, who were limited to stores near them that often lacked variety and healthy options. This outcome provides critical insights for governments and retailers to better predict and serve consumer needs.

University of Toronto