SpartanNash expands Double Up Food Bucks access

This year, SpartanNash has extended Double Up Food Bucks, a healthy food incentive for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit recipients, to 46 stores in Michigan.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash said yesterday, Double Up Food Bucks is now available at two Family Fare supermarkets in Coldwater and Cheboygan and one VG’s Grocery store in Howell. The program continues at 43 Family Fare, VG’s and ValuLand stores.

Administered by the Fair Food Network, Double Up Food Bucks enables SNAP beneficiaries to earn free produce when they buy fresh fruit and vegetables with their SNAP benefit at participating retailers.

For each dollar of fresh produce SNAP customers buy using their EBT Bridge Card and SpartanNash’s yes loyalty account, that amount is placed on their yes account. Shoppers then can redeem the Double Up dollars for free fruit and vegetables at participating Family Fare and VG’s locations. The program carries a maximum dollar-for-dollar match of $20 daily on participants’ yes account.

The Double Up Food Bucks incentive is offered by SpartanNash at 36 Family Fare, seven VG’s Grocery and three ValuLand stores.

SpartanNash noted that, since 2014, it has been the only major grocery retailer in Michigan with multiple stores participating in Double Up. The grocery wholesalers and retailer said the program is a key element if its corporate responsibility efforts because it drives access to nutritious foods and supports local farmers.

Related:Fine Fare Supermarkets to help SNAP recipients Get the Good Stuff

“We are committed to partnering with local growers and producers, as well as building stronger communities with programs like Double Up Food Bucks,” Tom Swanson, senior vice president and general manager for corporate retail at SpartanNash, said in a statement. “We are proud to have offered Double Up in our stores for the past seven years, because it enables SNAP customers to increase their access to fresh fruits and vegetables and supports our local farmers. And it’s a real win-win for our communities as a whole.”

The Double Up incentive is offered at 36 Family Fare, seven VG’s and three ValuLand locations. SpartanNash said that because ValuLand stores don’t participate in the yes loyalty program, SNAP customers will get half the price of a produce item free (up to $20 per day) when they buy fresh fruit and vegetables at a ValuLand location using an EBT Bridge Card.

In 2020, Double Up Food Bucks is available at more than 150 farmers markets, farmstands and other retailer outlets, as well as at over 100 full-service grocery stores, including independent supermarkets supplied by SpartanNash. Double Up started at five farmers markets in Detroit in 2009 and was expanded to Michigan grocery stores in 2013. Nationally, the Double Up program is active in 27 other states from coast to coast.

Related:GreenLeaf Market serves up meals in a food desert

“We’re grateful for SpartanNash’s long-term partnership, bringing Double Up to its many customers and improving healthy food access in the broader community,” commented Kate Krauss, executive director and chief operating officer of Fair Food Network. “We’re excited about SpartanNash’s role in helping us reach more families in every corner of the state as we launch Double Up’s expansion in 2020.”

Overall, SpartanNash operates 156 corporate-owned supermarkets, mainly under the Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery and Dan’s Supermarket banners.