The availability of fast food outlets and grocery retailers in Northern Ireland and their distance to secondary schools
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) originally commissioned CADA Consulting to investigate the availability of fast food outlets and grocery retailers in Northern Ireland and specifically the options close to secondary schools (Study 1).

The FSA's Food Hygiene Rating System (FHRS) was used to identify relevant businesses. Fast food outlets were identified by searching for well-known chains and through the use of key search terms in the business names. Grocery retailers were indentified by taking businesses in specific FHRS categories, searching for well-known chains and the use of key search terms in the business names. While grocery retailers were used to assess the availability of healthier food options, it is noted that they also typically sell unhealthy food and some may sell limited healthier options.

The study was extended in 2026 (Study 2) to include an investigation of trends with deprivation using the 25th and 75th percentiles of schools' Free School Meal Entitlement (FSME) as a indicator of students' deprivation.

This application provides key information from the study to allow for further exploration of the data.

Further details can be found in the Study 1 overview report, Study 1 detailed report, Study 2 detailed report and at FSA's website. For more information, please contact science.ni@food.gov.uk

Instructions for use

Select the topic of interest using the side menu. The items available and content are detailed below:
  • Overview (this page)
  • Rates per 100,000 population
    • Maps and tables of fast food outlets grocery retailer rates per 100,000 population by Local Government District
  • Business locations
    • Map of fast food outlets and grocery retailer locations in Northern Ireland
    • Table of total fast food outlets and grocery retailers by Local Government District
  • Secondary schools
    • Maps displaying number of fast food outlets and grocery retailers within 400m of a secondary school
    • Table with the average number of fast food outlets and grocery retailers within 400m of a secondary school by Local Government District
  • Secondary schools trends with deprivation
    • Maps displaying number of fast food outlets and grocery retailers within 400m of a secondary school for low and high deprivation indicated by Free School Meal Entitlement
    • Table with the average number of fast food outlets and grocery retailers within 400m of a secondary school by Local Government District
Note that locations of schools and businesses are indicative and provided for illustrative purposes only

Interacting with the maps

Maps can be explored in the following ways:
  • Panning: hold left button while moving mouse
  • Zoom: use mouse scroll wheel or pinch on touchscreens
  • Tooltips: hover over map items for further information
  • Select data to view: double-click an item in the legend to isolate; single click to remove from the view

Data sources

The data used in this study was as follows:
School children talking
Rates per 100,000 population
Average NI fast food outlets rate
116.8
Fast food outlets
Average NI grocery retailers rate
49.8
Grocery retailers
Source data
Rates per 100,000 population
Business Locations
Total NI fast food outlets
2,223
Total NI grocery retailers
938
Fast food outlets and grocery retailers
Note that locations of businesses are indicative and provided for illustrative purposes only
Regional Totals
Number of businesses
Secondary schools
Schools are coloured based on the number of businesses within 400m.
Note that locations of schools and businesses are indicative and provided for illustrative purposes only.
Grocery retailers were used to assess the availability of healthier food options, however they also typically sell unhealthy food and some may sell limited healthier options.
Average NI fast food outlets
within 400m of a secondary school
2.2
Average NI grocery retailers
within 400m of a secondary school
0.8
Fast food outlets
Grocery retailers
Regional averages
Average number of businesses within 400m of a secondary school
Secondary schools trends with deprivation
Schools are coloured based on the number of businesses within 400m.
Note that locations of schools and businesses are indicative and provided for illustrative purposes only.
Grocery retailers were used to assess the availability of healthier food options, however they also typically sell unhealthy food and some may sell limited healthier options.
Schools have been separated into lower 25th percentile and upper 75th percentiles based on the percentage of students who have Free School Meal Entitlement (FSME).
Lower 25th percentile FSME percentage threshold
12.0%
Fast food outlets for schools within lower 25th percentile FSME
Grocery retailers for schools within lower 25th percentile FSME
Upper 75th percentile FSME percentage threshold
33.4%
Fast food outlets for schools within upper 75th percentile FSME
Grocery retailers for schools within upper 75th percentile FSME