Abstract Background The North Carolina (NC) Healthy Food Small Retailer Program (HFSRP) was passed into law with a $250. 000 appropriation (2016–2018) providing up to $25. 000 in funding to small food stores for equipment to stock healthier foods and beverages. This paper describes an observational natural experiment documenting the impact of the HFSRP on store food environments. https://leoners.shop/product-category/throw/