The e-food deserts index (EFDI) measures the extent to which neighbourhoods have characteristics associated with food deserts across four key drivers of groceries accessibility: 1. Proximity and density of grocery retail facilities 2. Transport and accessibility 3. Neighbourhood socio-economic and demographic characteristics 4. E-commerce availability and propensity

The EFDI incorporates new indicators of online groceries (home delivery) provision and propensity to engage with online groceries, the latter drawn from an existing CDRC data resource, the 2018 Internet User Classification. In addition to urban deprivation, it highlights a new driver of inequalities in access to groceries, termed ‘e-food deserts’ – remote and rural neighbourhoods which suffer the dual disadvantage of comparatively poor access to physical retail opportunities alongside limited provision of online groceries.