Dive Brief:
- C-store retailer Quality Dairy has begun accepting electronic benefits transfer (EBT) payments from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for delivery and curbside pickup across its entire 26-location footprint, according to an emailed press release on Tuesday.
- The Lansing, Michigan-based company began accepting the payments through its partnership with Vroom Delivery, and now allows customers to split payments between EBT and other forms.
- Quality Dairy is the only c-store operator in Michigan and just the eighth retailer in the state to accept online EBT payments, joining retail heavyweights like Aldi and Walmart.
Dive Insight:
With inflation still weighing on consumers and food prices remaining high, the ability to accept EBT payments online could help c-stores attract new customers.
Quality Dairy had gotten both online and in-person feedback that accepting EBT online would be helpful to its customer base, a spokesperson said in an email. The chain also knew it had many elderly or otherwise homebound customers who were already getting delivery through the store, making this a natural addition.
“We are always looking at better serving our community and are proud to be able to offer this service to our customers that may need home delivery or curbside pickup and wish to use their EBT/SNAP funds,” said Marketing Manager Phillip Platte in the release.
When a customer places an online order at Quality Dairy, they can now use SNAP/EBT as their payment method, said John Nelson, founder and CEO of Vroom Delivery in an email. The system will check their EBT balance and the items in the basket, then let them know how much they can pay via EBT. From there, any balance can be paid off via another payment method.
Vroom Delivery and Quality Dairy have been working together on e-commerce since 2018. EBT payments are available through Vroom Delivery in five states, and the system also allows companies to customize their e-commerce menu to make it easier for customers to see which items are eligible.
Quality Dairy offers bakery, dairy and commissary items in addition to other convenience store fare. The 87-year-old company operates in and around the Lansing area.
