Mapping the Invisible

This report argues that it is essential to understand  the
dynamics of the informal food retail sector because of its vital role
in ensuring  greater access to food by the urban poor. Existing policy
frameworks to address food security and to govern the informal sector
tend to neglect informal retail in the food system. As a result, the
sector is poorly understood. The report therefore attempts to identify
the characteristics of the sector that impact on its ability to address
the food needs of the neighbourhoods in which the businesses are
located. Although the research is focused on Cape Town, the findings
are of broader relevance.