E-commerce platforms are broadening access to groceries and other goods for low-income customers using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) electronic benefits transfer (EBT) payment.
Local commerce platform DoorDash is collaborating with drugstore chain Walgreens to offer SNAP/EBT payment at nearly 7,800 Walgreens stores nationwide.
DoorDash is the first platform that enables SNAP customers to make purchases directly from Walgreens using their SNAP/EBT cards, it said. DoorDash is also the first third-party delivery service provider (DSP) to offer SNAP/EBT as a payment option at a major drugstore nationwide, it said.
With the addition of Walgreens, DoorDash more than doubles the number of stores available for on-demand delivery with SNAP/EBT payments. It is broadening access by offering SNAP/EBT access to more than 14 million people who are living in food deserts, and more than 40 million people living in communities where more than 1 in 10 households receive SNAP/EBT benefits.
“Since launching support for SNAP/EBT payments in 2023, over 1.1 million consumers have added their SNAP/EBT cards to DoorDash,” said Fuad Hannon, vice president of new verticals for the platform. “This first-of-its-kind partnership with Walgreens offers convenient and critical access to food and pantry essentials for families and individuals across the country. We’re proud to remove as many barriers as possible when it comes to connecting people with food, wherever they live and however they choose to shop.”
Customers can order SNAP-eligible products using their SNAP benefits from their local Walgreens through DoorDash. Walgreens will offer more than 4,000 SNAP-eligible products for delivery within an hour on DoorDash. Whether it’s stocking up on breakfast essentials including milk, oatmeal, or juice, or pantry staples such as nuts, bars, or snacks, consumers can shop the Walgreens marketplace directly on the DoorDash app to fulfill their grocery needs quickly and affordably.
“This collaboration with DoorDash means our shoppers can now get essential grocery items when they want, regardless of payment method and other barriers like work schedules and transportation,” said Balachandra Visalatha, senior vice president and chief product officer at Walgreens, Deerfield, Illinois. “Walgreens is a go to destination for daily needs for our shoppers, and we continue to find solutions that make their shopping experience simpler so they can get access to healthier food options.”
DoorDash, based in San Francisco, is one of the largest online marketplaces to offer SNAP/EBT recipients’ access to grocery delivery across the country. Now, nearly all DoorDash’s monthly active users have access to a SNAP store across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. To further our commitment to increase access to food, DoorDash is offering SNAP/EBT consumers who are currently not DashPass subscribers $0 delivery fee on up to three orders paid with SNAP at Walgreens.
DashPass members can access thousands of restaurants, grocery and convenience stores at affordable prices, with $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders. DashPass members save $5 per eligible order on average, the company said.
Currently, Walgreens stores accept SNAP/EBT in-person at most locations. This collaboration with DoorDash allows shoppers across the nation to use SNAP/EBT at any Walgreens, regardless of where they live. Walgreens has nearly 9,000 retail locations across America, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Separately, online marketplace Amazon has launched a grocery delivery subscription benefit to Prime members and customers using EBT in more than 3,500 U.S. cities and towns.
At $9.99 per month for Prime members, this subscription offers unlimited grocery delivery on orders over $35 across Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and a variety of local grocery and specialty retailers on Amazon.com.
As part of Seattle-based Amazon's efforts to help low-income customers more affordably shop for groceries, customers with a registered EBT card can receive a discounted subscription fee of $4.99 per month without a Prime membership.
The subscription includes one-hour delivery windows at no extra cost where available and unlimited 30-minute pickup on orders of any size/ It also grants priority access to Recurring Reservations for a weekly grocery order for customers who prefer to purchase their groceries more regularly, whether ordering for delivery or pickup. It also offers unlimited delivery on orders $35 and above from local grocery and specialty retailers such as Cardenas Markets, Save Mart, Bartell Drugs, Rite Aid, Pet Food Express and Mission Wine & Spirits.
Amazon piloted the grocery subscription with Prime members in Columbus, Ohio; Denver; and Sacramento, California, in late 2023. In a recent survey of grocery subscribers from the pilot, more than 85% of respondents shared that they are extremely or very satisfied with the unlimited free delivery benefit. Some of the top reasons customers shared for staying a subscriber following the trial were saving money on delivery fees and the service making their grocery shopping experience more convenient.
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