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A whopping 2,276 more grocery stores soon will accept electronic benefits transfer payments for online grocery shopping. In one move, Albertsons Cos., parent of Albertsons, Safeway, Jewel-Osco, Vons, and Pavilions stores, said the payment option is now available across its stores. Albertsons said more of its 22 brands will add EBT SNAP online acceptance through the summer.
Announced Monday, the decision means it will be easier for individuals receiving Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to shop online, which may be important to those with mobility issues and other issues that affect their ability to shop in stores.
The Albertsons implementation also enables shoppers to use multiple payment forms with an order. EBT consumers can use a credit or debit card to pay for non-SNAP eligible items in the same order.
“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,” Susan Morris, Albertsons chief operating officer, said in a statement. Albertsons in based in Boise, Idaho, and posted $72 billion in fiscal 2021 sales.
The grocer also is working with delivery service Instacart to enable grocery delivery for EBT SNAP purchases. In 2020, Instacart began a delivery program with Aldi for online SNAP purchases. Also, that year, Fiserv Inc., which provides online EBT payment technology, said the program was in 42 states. Today, according to a USDA Web site, 48 states and the District of Columbia offer SNAP payments. Alaska is the only state with no participants.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a two-year test of online SNAP payments in 2019.
