Short Oral Presentation Nutrition Society of Australia 50th Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Exploring the use of point-of-sale systems in remote Australian stores for nutrition-related decision making (147252)

Amanda Hill 1 , Corinne Davis 1 , Luke Greenacre 2 , Meaghan Christian 1 , Molly Fairweather 1 , Emma van Burgel 1 3 , Megan Ferguson 1 4 5 , Emma McMahon 1 4 5 , Bronwyn Fredericks 6 , Amanda Lee 4 , Christina Pollard 3 , Joanna Batstone 7 , Nicole Turner 8 , Julie Brimblecombe 1 4 5
  1. Monash University, Notting Hill, VIC, Australia
  2. Monash Business School, Monash University, Caulfield East, VIC, Australia
  3. Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
  4. School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia
  5. Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT, Australia
  6. Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia
  7. Monash Data Futures Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  8. Indigenous Allied Health Australia, Deakin, ACT, Australia

Point-of-sale (POS) scanner data are collected at retail checkouts from foods and drinks purchased and can provide important information for health and nutrition-related decision making1. Remote stores in Australia are often the primary source of non-traditional food for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities2. In remote Australia, store turnover and sales data have previously been used in research to estimate dietary intake in remote communities3 and monitor customer purchasing and food price for nutrition-related decision making4,5. Despite the growing use of POS information for nutrition-related decision making, less is known about remote stores systems used outside of research. This study aimed to identify whether POS information differs by store type, the impact of POS system functionality and user capability on data reporting, use and nutrition-related decision making, and to inform development of fit-for-purpose digital infrastructure to track nutritional quality of remote store sales using POS data. A convergent, mixed-methods design was used to explore how POS systems are used to inform health-related business decisions in remote Australian stores. Store representatives participating in a randomised-controlled trial (Benchmarking study) were invited to complete a survey or semi-structured interview, which collected information on the POS system used; types, use and importance of POS reports; and decision-making responsibilities related to stock, layout, choice of POS provider, POS related targets, store nutrition policy and investment in infrastructure. Surveys from group-managed (n = 5) and independent (n = 7) stores were analysed for frequencies and proportions. Interviews, representing independent (n = 7) or smaller group-managed (n = 1) stores, were analysed inductively and coded in NVivo. Nutrition-related POS information was rated highly important across stores, but while group stores reported using specialised nutrition-related reports to monitor against their nutrition policies, independent stores reported extracting nutrition-related information from other reports. Other barriers to utilising nutrition-related indicators identified from independent stores included limited capability of the current system, time needed to prepare nutrition-related reports, and no set nutrition targets to motivate stores. Following this study, building on progressive work, a digital system that links POS data with nutrition data to report on nutrition-related performance indicators in remote stores has been developed, and is now being used to support performance monitoring for remote stores registered with the Australian Government’s National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations. Ongoing government funding and support is needed to enable wider availability of digital systems for linking POS data with nutrition information. Improved capability to report on nutrition indicators will add to the decision-making capacity in remote stores for improving nutrition-related outcomes, and ultimately benefit the health of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities they serve.

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  2. 2. van Burgel E, et al. Aust NZ J Public Health. 2024;48(6):1-3.
  3. 3. Lee AJ, et al. Aust NZ J Public Health. 1994;18(2):190-7.
  4. 4. McMahon E, et al. Nutrients. 2024;16(7):1058.
  5. 5. Ferguson M, et al. Aust NZ J Public Health. 2016;40:S21-S6.