In an effort to make fresh food more accessible, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meijer has expanded the Flashfood program, making it the first retailer nationwide to accept SNAP benefits through the app.
Meijer launched Flashfood in November 2019 at a handful of its supercenters in metro Detroit. The service is used by more than 500,000 shoppers across all of its stores. Customers can now use their SNAP benefits on their Flashfood orders; they will need to add their EBT cards as a payment method in the app.
“As a company committed to enriching lives in the communities we serve, we’re pleased to be the first retailer to expand our Flashfood program in this way,” said Rick Keyes, president and CEO. “Feeding people has always been at the heart of what we do, and this is another way Meijer is working to provide extra value to those customers who need it most.”
While also cutting down on in-store food waste, Flashfood allows customers to purchase food nearing its sell-by date at up to 50 percent off on the app, and pick them up from a designated rack located at the front of the stores. To date, customers have diverted about 5.6 million pounds of food nearing its sell-by date at a discount and preventing it from potentially entering landfills.
“We want to make healthy, high-quality groceries an affordable reality for every American family and adding SNAP benefits to Flashfood gets us one step closer to that vision,” said Josh Domingues, Flashfood founder and CEO.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Meijer for being our first partner to expand access to Flashfood with SNAP EBT, and for their industry-leading commitment to reducing food insecurity and increasing access to healthy food.”
Applying EBT benefits to Flashfood purchases marks the latest initiative to provide value for families in need. Meijer recently announced discounts on qualifying produce for SNAP customers, thanks to a USDA waiver.
Meijer operates 501 supercenters, neighborhood markets, Meijer Grocery and Express locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer has evolved to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, apparel, pet items, garden centers, toys and electronics.
