Tops Friendly Markets now accepting SNAP for Flashfood purchases

Tops Friendly Markets shoppers who use SNAP EBT can now apply those dollars to purchases through the Flashfood app, Forage, the San Francisco-based tech company working to make SNAP payments available online, announced Tuesday.

The Flashfood service enables shoppers to purchase substantially discounted foods that are approaching their best-by dates. In March, Meijer became the first nationwide retailer to allow SNAP payments through Flashfood. 

“As a company committed to feeding more families, we’re thrilled to expand our partnership with Flashfood and launch EBT as an online payment method for Tops Friendly Markets,” said Forage co-founder and CEO Ofek Lavian in a statement. “We are proud to help provide access to affordable, healthy groceries for low-income Americans that continue to struggle with the realities of food insecurity and inflation.” 

Tops shoppers using SNAP EBT can now save up to 50% on items nearing their best-by date, including meat, dairy, seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, bakery items and more. Those purchases can be made and then picked up at the Flashfood kiosk in select stores. 

As of early March, Flashfood was available at 68 Tops locations in western New York, following the announcement that the grocer expanded the service to 18 more of its stores. 

"Part of Tops' core mission is eradicating hunger, and Flashfood is an innovative tool that allows us to provide quality product at a discounted price helping with the bottom line, all while diverting it from landfills," Jeff Culhane, senior vice president of merchandising for Tops Friendly Markets, said in a statement in March about the Flashfood expansion.