In 2021, the UK government passed legislation to restrict specific forms of price promotions, often referred to as special offers (e.g. “BOGOF” or “2-for-1”) and extra-volume promotions (e.g. “50% extra free”), on High Fat, Salt, and Sugar (HFSS) foods.
The legislation came into force in October 2025. Before the implementation of this legislation, some UK Supermarkets took voluntary action; one major supermarket implemented a voluntary ban on HFSS price promotions in February 2016, and another did the same in October 2022.
This study will form part of the NIHR funded Supermarket HFSS Optional price Promotion bans Study (SHOPS), a public health evaluation of the voluntary bans on special offers on HFSS foods in UK supermarkets.
We will interview members of the public who regularly shop in UK supermarkets to understand how individuals use special offers when shopping, and how bans on special offers in supermarkets impact them and their shopping habits.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this study, please talk to Dr Natalie Egan at: hfsspricepromobans@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk
