Structuration spatiale des nouvelles formes de distribution pour la transition des systèmes alimentaires. Le cas de la province de Liège, Belgique

Abstract

Agri-food innovations can contribute to the sustainability transition. However, the spatial dimension of their development remains poorly addressed in transition research, and food environment research does not focus on new retailing initiatives. This article aims to characterize the diversity of existing initiatives as well as to identify potential inequalities in access to these retail networks. It is based on a study of 214 local food retailing initiatives developed in the province of Liege, Belgium. Data were collected between January 2018th and May 2021st through a telephone survey. A typology of initiatives was conducted using a multiple factor analysis followed by a hierarchical clustering. The initiatives’ clusters and the retail and socio-demographic environment of associated outlets are located were characterized. Three profiles were identified: (i) a network of depot outlets carried by citizen and association collectives, (ii) retailers combining long and short chain supplies, and (iii) farmers and artisans in direct sales who pool their sales. The outlets of the different initiatives’ clusters are characterized by different socio-demographic and retail environments, underlining their complementarity. Finally, the socio-spatial differentiation in the physical accessibility of the outlets of local food retailing initiatives raises questions about the inclusive dimension of the sustainability transition.

Keywords

• accessibility
• innovation
• socio-spatial inequalities
• typology
• retail trade