Instacart expands SNAP EBT capability nationwide

Instacart has enabled acceptance of electronic benefits transfer (EBT) payments for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) online grocery purchases via its platform at another 10 states, including from Albertsons Cos. and Sprouts Farmers Market stores.

San Francisco-based Instacart said Monday that, through the Instacart App, SNAP recipients can order groceries for delivery or pickup from grocers across 49 states and Washington, D.C., and pay directly with their EBT cards. That now includes stores in Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

On the retailer side, grocery stores can process SNAP EBT payments for Instacart orders using the Carrot Payments component of Instacart Platform, the online delivery giant’s enterprise solutions suite. The capability includes orders placed via the Instacart App as well as through grocers’ own digital properties built with Instacart’s Carrot Storefront and Carrot Storefront Pro platform modules. Grocery retailers also can use Carrot Payments to accept other types of digital payments, including Apple Pay and PayPal.

Albertsons now enables SNAP recipients to use EBT to pay for Instacart App grocery orders, while Tops Friendly Market SNAP customers can do so via both the Instacart App and the grocer's Instacart-powered e-grocery website.

With the expaned, Instacart said it now powers SNAP EBT payments for more than 60 retail banners across over 8,000 stores, reaching nearly 30 million people experiencing food insecurity.

Related:USDA invests in expansion of SNAP online grocery shopping

“We’ve long advocated to expand online EBT SNAP acceptance, and we’re proud to bring this critical service to people in 10 additional states in partnership with grocers that people know, love and trust,” Sarah Mastrorocco, vice president of access to food and nutrition at Instacart, said in a statement. “Our partners offer a broad selection of fresh food and pantry staples, and with this expansion, we’re giving more families access to nourishment, paired with the convenience of same-day delivery and pickup. We look forward to continuing to expand this program and enabling more retailers to accept EBT SNAP payments online through the Instacart Platform.”

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos. allows SNAP customers to use EBT to buy groceries and essentials via the Instacart app from four supermarket banners, including Albertsons, Pavilions, Safeway and Vons. SNAP beneficiaries who shop online through Jewel-Osco also can pay using EBT for grocery orders placed through the banner’s website or app.

“Research shows that a large percentage of EBT recipients face mobility challenges due to a disability, lack of transportation or caring for young children, which can prevent them from physically visiting a store. As a trusted community grocer committed to solving food insecurity, we want to make healthy foods available to those at risk by offering multiple private, secure, and convenient shopping options,” stated Susan Morris, chief operating officer at Albertsons Cos. “This program allows shoppers to use their EBT cards to make online purchases for home delivery or free store pickup, which is a critical part of our ongoing efforts to create a flexible and convenient shopping experience for all customers.”

Related:Sprouts enables SNAP EBT payments for Instacart orders

Plans call for SNAP EBT functionality to roll out to more Albertsons Cos. online store banners this summer and later this year via the retailer’s digital services and Instacart. Currently, Albertsons offers same-day delivery from more than 2,000 stores across 21 banners through Instacart.

Albertsons Cos. accepts SNAP EBT payment for online grocery orders through the Instacart app or via its retail banners' own apps and digital storefronts at Albertsons, Pavilions, Safeway, Vons and Jewel-Osco.

Phoenix-based Sprouts enables customers in 23 states to use SNAP EBT to purchase groceries online for delivery or pickup from its more than 380 stores via Instacart’s app. Through the partnership, the companies also launched Sprouts’ white-label e-commerce storefront, powered by Carrot Storefront Pro.

“Sprouts is a leader in making the highest-quality fresh foods accessible to all. Online shopping for delivery and pickup offers our customers that accessibility and convenience to fit any lifestyle,” according to Nick Konat, president and chief operating officer of Sprouts. “Through this expanded partnership with Instacart, we can offer our customers the option to use their SNAP benefits when ordering their fresh and nutritious foods online, allowing them greater convenience, accessibility and affordability.”

Also providing SNAP EBT online payments through the Instacart platform is Northeast Grocery Inc., formed through the merger of Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Friendly Markets. Customers placing orders via the Instacart App or Carrot Storefront Pro website at Price Chopper/Market 32 can pay with SNAP EBT at over 120 stores in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Vermont. That functionality also is available at more than 70 Tops stores in New York, Vermont and northern Pennsylvania.

“At Price Chopper/Market 32, we’re committed to offering our customers not only a great in-store shopping experience but also a seamless, affordable and accessible online shopping experience,” commented Blaine Bringhurst, president of Price Chopper/Market 32. “Our partnership with Instacart equips us to fulfill that promise via its comprehensive e-commerce experience for same day pickup or delivery capable of facilitating payment with EBT SNAP on the Instacart App as well as on our own website, www.pricechopper.com, and our Price Chopper mobile app.”

Instacart noted that Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Friendly Markets introduced SNAP EBT payments on the Instacart App in 2021 and have now integrated acceptance on their Storefront Pro e-commerce sites.

“Tops Friendly Markets has been a partner of Instacart for a number of years using our expansive network of neighborhood stores to fill immediate delivery and curbside pick-up needs for area customers,” stated John Persons, president of Tops. “Our evolving partnership continues to grow and now includes digital/mobile, catering and EBT SNAP solutions to provide even more affordability and convenience.”

Also accepting SNAP EBT payments for Instacart App orders is supercenter retailer Meijer, covering locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin for delivery from more than 250 stores.