To examine whether using grocery delivery services moderates the relationship between distance to supermarket and dietary variety among Japanese older adults.

We conducted a 1-year prospective cohort study. Distance to supermarket was measured using geographic information systems. We collected information on dietary variety score (range 0–10), regular use of grocery delivery services and socio-demographic factors using a questionnaire delivered via post.

The current study was performed in Nada Ward, Kobe City, Japan, from 2017 to 2018.

Older adults living in Nada Ward (n 778).

The linear mixed model showed that a longer distance to supermarket (per 100 m: B = –0·07, 95 % CI –0·14, –0·01, P = 0·048) significantly predicted lower dietary variety after adjusting for socio-demographic factors. Using grocery delivery services (B = 0·28, 95 % CI –0·08, 0·64, P = 0·127) did not significantly predict dietary variety, and neither did its interaction with distance to supermarket (B = –0·04, 95 % CI –0·17, 0·10, P = 0·604).

The current study found that longer distance to supermarket was associated with lower dietary variety among Japanese older adults and that the use of grocery delivery services did not moderate this association. The findings imply that the use of grocery delivery services is insufficient to reduce the negative influence of inconvenient food access on dietary variety among older adults.