FRONT END SNAP News
the funds to purchase specific products, including but not limited to meat, dairy, produce, bread, cereal, snacks and nonalcoholic drinks. During the pandemic, emergency benefits were increased by 15%, but that program expired in September. However, Congress approved a $36.24 per person per month increase, or more than 25%, for fiscal year 2022, effective Oct. 1, 2021. This was the first non-pandemic-related raise since the program’s inception. Then in December, separate bipartisan legislation allowing SNAP dollars to be used to buy certain hot or prepared foods, which currently are excluded, was introduced. The SNAP Plus Act of 2021 sponsors reason that not only do many SNAP users work multiple jobs, limiting time available to cook meals from scratch, but that Americans have migrated toward more readyto-eat options. That’s also the direction c-store foodservice operations have been moving. “Under the current rules of the program, a SNAP individual can purchase a cold sandwich packaged to go at a convenience store, but if that sandwich is toasted or placed in a panini press, it can no longer be purchased using SNAP benefits. This makes no logical sense, and is especially burdensome to SNAP families and individuals who are elderly, homeless or disabled,” said Anna Ready Blom, director, government relations for the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). If passed, this new allowance would not only expand qualified items in c-stores, but also create more reasons for SNAP users to come inside. “It’s fairly common for EBT customers to have mixed EBT and non-EBT items in their baskets. As an example, a guest’s transaction may include pre-pay for fuel as well as a bottle of water and a piece of fresh fruit or a box of cereal — but only the water, fruit and cereal would be purchased with EBT; the fuel would be purchased with another tender,” said Rigamonti. What’s more, 7-Eleven Hawaii has begun fulfilling online orders for SNAP-eligible products and making them available for pickup or delivery. 20
CSTORE DECISIONS •
February 2022
The c-store chain worked on the project with Vroom Delivery and FNS for the past year. C-stores must apply for and be granted authority to process EBT transactions by meeting one of two criteria. Criterion A demands retailers continuously carry three stocking units of three different varieties of staple foods in each staple food category: vegetables or fruit; dairy products; meat, poultry or fish; and breads or cereals. Additionally, businesses must stock at least one perishable item in two staple categories. Criterion B requires more than 50% of a store’s total gross sales be from staple foods. The online SNAP program demands a separate certification for e-commerce, also issued by FNS. “NACS is currently waiting on FNS … to finalize a new definition for which staple foods can count toward those requirements. NACS has met with officials at FNS about the critical access convenience stores provide to Americans relying on SNAP, and how any requirements need to be workable to ensure those stores can remain valuable partners in the program,” said Ready Blom. Still, for many retailers, the effort delivers a worthwhile return on investment, on many levels. “At Rutter’s, our goal is to provide the ultimate convenience to our customers,” said Hartman. “Accepting EBT purchases allows us to provide more ways, for more customers, to shop our store.”
Fast Facts • The fiscal year 2022 SNAP boost of $36.24 per person per month is the program’s first non-pandemic-related raise. • Convenience stores account for 45% of SNAP-qualified retailers. • SNAP Plus Act of 2021 would allow purchases of certain hot or prepared foods.
cstoredecisions.com
