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Tops to expand SNAP EBT payment for Instacart orders

Pennsylvania, Vermont stores to get service after New York rollout

Russell Redman

July 21, 2021

2 Min Read
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Tops has enabled SNAP EBT payments at the 126 New York stores where it offers Instacart same-day delivery and pickup services.Tops Friendly Markets

Tops Friendly Markets has begun accepting of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) payments for Instacart online grocery orders from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers at most of its New York stores, with plans to bring the capability to other states.

SNAP shoppers can use the EBT service at the 126 New York locations where Tops offers Instacart same-day delivery and pickup services. The Williamsville, N.Y.-based regional grocer said that, in the coming weeks Tops, it aims to expand SNAP EBT payment to its Pennsylvania and Vermont stores that provide Instacart delivery and pickup.

“Tops Friendly Markets is excited to pilot these services in our largest market of Instacart stores,” Jill Sirica, manager of digital marketing for Tops, said in a statement. “At the core of Tops mission is combating food insecurity, and this will help bridge that gap of helping families gain accessibility to healthy and affordable food, something we have strived for since we began our partnership with Instacart. We are truly excited to see it come to fruition.”

To use the EBT service, Tops SNAP customers go to instacart.topsmarkets.com or open the Instacart app, enter their ZIP code, select their local Tops store and start shopping for eligible fresh food, grocery and daily essential products. When done adding items to the virtual cart, they then choose a delivery or pickup window and check out. Personal shoppers pick and pack the orders and then deliver them to customers’ homes or, if pickup service is chosen, load them into their vehicles when they arrive at the store.  

Related:Giant Food to accept EBT payments from SNAP customers for online orders

SNAP customers must link an EBT card to their Instacart account as well as a credit or debit card to cover non-food fees, such as bottle deposits, taxes, delivery tips and other non-EBT SNAP-eligible items that may be part of their transaction, Tops noted. Also, once items are added to their cart, customers can designate how much of their SNAP benefits they would like to allocate to the order.
With the launch of the service at the New York stores, Instacart is waiving delivery or pickup fees through Sept. 16 for SNAP EBT participants, covering up to their first three orders, Tops said.

“We’re proud to partner with Tops Friendly Markets to provide more families with a convenient and accessible way to get their fresh food and pantry staples,” commented David Healy, who handles retail partnerships at Instacart. “Expanding EBT SNAP to reach same-day online grocery delivery and pickup is important to help people access the food they need, and we look forward to expanding this payment integration to even more retailers across New York, Vermont and Pennsylvania.” 

Related:Food Lion enables online SNAP EBT payments across its stores

Overall, Top has 162 supermarkets in New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, including five stores run by franchisees.

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Tops Friendly Markets

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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