ABSTRACT

Among the pillars of food security, accessibility plays an important role. In this chapter, we have carried out a study in the Sabana Centro region of Colombia, with the intention of identifying how the physical distribution in different channels can influence the proximity of fresh food at retailers in the region. To do this, we used geographical information systems to develop geographical clusters, where we identified particularities in the different areas of the selected region. Then, with the help of Voronoi diagrams and buffer rings, we identified possible areas where there is not an adequate supply of fresh food. Finally, we conclude that different channels ensure the food accessibility to diverse groups. It can be shown that small corner stores or nanostores currently play a crucial role, mainly in areas farther away from downtown areas. This study identified that nanostores can partially serve many peripheral regions not reached by larger channels such as fruvers and supermarkets. However, this channel requires further investigation due to its informality, which makes difficult the prediction of variables such as the entry and closure of nanostores, or the assurance of a suitable assortment of fresh food on shelves that favors nutrition.