Instacart expands EBT SNAP program

Grocery delivery service Instacart has announced the expansion of its  Electronic Benefits Transfer and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (EBT SNAP) online payments integration.

Instacart's EBT SNAP footprint spans more than 40 retailers across more than 5,600 stores, with the delivery service offering free delivery and pickup on all EBT SNAP orders for three months. In a recent Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) study, it was found that store brands are highly rated by SNAP recipients, who are overwhelmingly familiar and satisfied with them.

Instacart says it is the first and only platform to have pioneered the retailer onboarding process with the United States Department of Agriculture's Food & Nutrition Service (USDA FNS), accelerating retailers' abilities to certify for EBT SNAP online acceptance. As a result, more than half of all federally-approved retailers have received their EBT SNAP online certification for their stores on the Instacart platform. Additionally, Instacart now powers EBT SNAP online payments to reach more than 25 million people across the U.S.

Instacart is introducing a number of new offerings and integrations to expand its EBT SNAP online payments footprint:

• Subsidizing Costs with Free Delivery and Pickup: Doubling down on its commitment to increasing access to food, Instacart is waiving the delivery and pickup fees on all EBT SNAP orders from Jan. 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022 for customers using a valid EBT card associated with their Instacart account in connection with their purchase. This new promotion follows Instacart's offer of free delivery or pickup on the first three EBT SNAP customer orders for the past year.
   
• Convenience Delivery for EBT SNAP: In addition to partnering with traditional grocers, Instacart is now also enabling a number of its retailers to accept EBT SNAP payments through its virtual convenience offering. Whether fresh produce, pantry staples or last-minute dinner ingredients, convenience delivery offers customers an easier and faster way to shop from their favorite grocers in as fast as 30 minutes. EBT SNAP convenience delivery is available in partnership with Ahold Delhaize USA banners: Food Lion Now, GIANT Instant Delivery, Giant Food Convenience, Hannaford Now, MARTIN's Instant Delivery and Stop & Shop Express -- all of which can be found within the Convenience Hub on the Instacart marketplace.
   
• Expanding Availability with New Retailers: Since launching EBT SNAP payments in partnership with ALDI in November 2020, Instacart has expanded its EBT SNAP footprint to include more than 40 retailers across more than 5,600 stores in 39 states and Washington, DC. Over the last year, Instacart has continued to partner with an extensive roster of retailers that accept EBT SNAP, which now includes Ahold Delhaize USA, Brookshire's, Earth Fare, Fairplay Foods, Food Bazaar, Harps Foods, Homeland, Little Giant Farmer's Market, My County Market, PAQ, Inc. (Food 4 Less California and Rancho San Miguel), Price Chopper/Market 32, Publix, The Save Mart Companies, Schnucks, Strack & Van Til, Tops Markets, Wakefern Food Corp., Woodman's Markets and more.
   
• Instacart Enterprise Integration: In addition to growing EBT SNAP across the marketplace, Instacart has enabled EBT SNAP payments across its enterprise solutions in partnership with BJ's Wholesale Club, Brookshire's, Food Bazaar, Food Lion, Harps Food Stores, Homeland, Publix, The Save Mart Companies, Schnucks, Strack & Van Til, Tops Markets and Wakefern Food Corp. By enabling the payments integration across retailers' web and mobile platforms – including retailer-owned websites and apps – that are powered by Instacart's enterprise technology, EBT SNAP customers now have even more options when accessing fresh food and pantry staples from grocers they know and trust.

"We believe grocery delivery and pickup shouldn't be a luxury for some - they should be accessible to everyone," said Fidji Simo, CEO of Instacart. "We're proud of the progress we've made since launching EBT SNAP payments, and are grateful to our retail and USDA FNS partners for helping us bridge the food accessibility gap for millions of Americans. Looking ahead, we're committed to expanding our EBT SNAP offering and investing in additional programs that offer consumers more accessible, affordable and nutritious ways to feed their families."