Grocers haven't fulfilled promise to put up stores for places without supermarkets, says AP

The Associated Press revealed that despite major food retailers' promise in 2011 to put up 1,500 grocery or convenience stores in neighborhoods that doesn't have supermarkets by 2016, only very few are made.

According to Fox News the promise to put up more stores is in line with first lady Michelle Obama's healthy eating initiative. The AP's analysis on federal food stamp data shows that some of the biggest store chains in America that are part of Michelle's project built only in a fraction of neighborhoods that needs supermarkets.

The Partnership for a Healthier America believes that providing an easier access to fresh food can help curb obesity in the country. However, the AP found out that some of the nation's largest grocers are avoiding America's food deserts, rather than making a profit in high-poverty places.

Meanwhile, AL.com reported that stores in Alabama haven't fulfilled their promise to provide fresh foods in the area. A food desert is an area with little or no supermarkets where low-income residents live. There are 1.8 million people in Alabama that doesn't have access to fresh food. Out of the 73 large grocery stores in Alabama, only 11 opened in food desert areas.

The Sacramento Bee enumerated the grocers that made promises, and where they stand now. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. needs to put up 300 stores. Now it has built 392 stores. Brown's Super Stores Inc. pledged to put up a new store and expand another. It expanded a ShopRite in Philadelphia and opened another branch.

SuperValu Inc., which promised to open 250 supermarkets, only opened 104 stores. Walgreen Co., which pledged to sell more fruits and vegetables in up to 2,000 Walgreens stores, had only done so in 160 of its chain this year. The Fresh Grocer, which promised to open up to five stores, opened only one. Calhoun Foods, which promised 10 chains, dropped out of the initiative.