Wegmans launches SNAP EBT payments for Instacart orders

Wegmans Food Markets has begun accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) electronic benefits transfer (EBT) payments for Instacart online grocery orders chainwide.

San Francisco-based Instacart said Wednesday that all 106 Wegmans supermarkets in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia and North Carolina now enable SNAP beneficiaries ordering groceries through the Instacart online marketplace and mobile app to use their EBT cards to complete purchases.

“The introduction of EBT SNAP payments for online orders increases accessibility to our wide selection of groceries, including fresh, wholesome and packaged foods, throughout our communities. This is incredibly important for our customers and our company, as we strive to help people live healthier, better lives through food,” Erica Tickle, vice president of e-commerce at Wegmans, said in a statement.

Rochester, N.Y.-based Wegmans and Instacart partnered to gain approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service to accept EBT SNAP payments. Under the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot, launched by the USDA’s FNS in April 2019, 49 states (except Alaska) and the District of Columbia now allow SNAP beneficiaries to shop and pay for groceries online.

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“Offering EBT SNAP payments through the Instacart website and mobile app is a great first step, and we look forward to expanding this capability to Wegmans.com and our mobile app later this year,” Tickle added.

With the addition of Wegmans, Instacart now enables EBT SNAP payments for over 60 retailers in 39 states and D.C.

Instacart and Wegmans first partnered in 2017 and now offer delivery and pickup from all Wegmans stores. To use the EBT online service, Wegmans SNAP customers create an Instacart profile and enter their EBT card information as a form of payment, along with a secondary payment form to cover nonfood items such as taxes, tips and fees. After selecting a nearby Wegmans store, they can then begin adding EBT SNAP-eligible products to their virtual cart. Customers also will be able to designate the amount of SNAP benefits to apply to their order. Orders can be placed for same-day delivery and pickup service, in as fast as 30 minutes, or scheduled several days in advance.

“Today, we’re proud to expand our partnership with Wegmans and provide East Coast families a more convenient, accessible way to access nutritious food and pantry staples,” commented Sarah Mastrorocco, vice president of access to food and nutrition at Instacart. “Online grocery shouldn’t just be a luxury, and to get there, we need to ensure delivery and pickup are affordable for everyone. We’re thrilled to provide households that rely on EBT SNAP benefits with more access to Wegmans’ quality produce and expansive selection across the East Coast.”

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With the addition of Wegmans, Instacart now powers EBT SNAP payments for more than 60 retailers in 39 states and the District of Columbia, spanning more than 7,000 stores nationwide. Instacart now offers the ability to accept EBT SNAP as part of recently launched Instacart Platform, a modular, omnichannel solutions suite that gives grocery retailers access to the technologies behind the Instacart consumer marketplace.

“I am proud of what this partnership will bring to my district and our community, especially for those who are unable to leave their homes or lack transportation,” New York State Assemblyman Harry Bronson (D., Rochester/Chili/Henrietta) said in a statement.

Instacart added that it pioneered the retailer onboarding process for EBT SNAP online payments and remains the only platform that expedites retailer certification for that capability. More than half of all federally approved retailers accept EBT SNAP online through the Instacart platform, serving more than 25 million people experiencing food insecurity across the U.S., the company said.

"This will prove critical in expanding access to fresh, affordable food across the region,” stated New York State Assemblywoman Sarah Clark, (D., Brighton/Irondequoit/Rochester). “I applaud Wegmans for pursuing this partnership and look forward to the program's growth.”