Aldi enhances Instacart service to serve EBT SNAP customers

Aldi has updated its grocery delivery service with Instacart to integrate the deliverer's Electronic Benefit Transfer and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (EBT SNAP).

For the first time, EBT SNAP participants will be able to access Aldi’s food and pantry items through Instacart's same-day delivery and pickup services. The multi-phased launch will begin in Georgia in the coming weeks across more than 60 Aldi stores, with anticipated plans to expand to more than 570 stores across Illinois, California, Florida and Pennsylvania in the coming months.

Aldi first teamed up with Instacart two years ago, and the delivery service is available to more than 2,000 Aldi stores. Aldi pickup though Instacart is available in about 700 locations. 

Instacart noted the EBT SNAP payment program comes at a time when food insecurity nationwide has been compounded by the events of COVID-19. According to Feeding America, due to the effects of the pandemic, more than 54 million people may experience food insecurity in 2020, which includes a potential 18 million children. In Georgia specifically, food insecurity impacts 12.5% of the population and disproportionately affects communities of color.

"Enabling customers to use their SNAP/EBT benefits for their grocery delivery and curbside pickup orders is an important extension of our in-store payment policy," said Brent Laubaugh, co-president of Aldi U.S. "While the option is only available in select markets at the moment, we're eager to roll out this update broadly as quickly as possible."

Instacart earlier helped donate to communities facing food insecurity through a program that raised more than $1 million for Feeding America. As part of Aldi’s commitment to Feeding America, the retailer donated $500,000 to the organization and donated 30 million pounds of food to food banks in the Feeding America network.