SNAP payments can now be made on Instacart’s Caper Carts, allowing program participants to pay for eligible items on the smart carts with their EBT cards.
The new capability, powered by partner Forage, makes it possible for SNAP customers to shop and check out with the same ease and privacy as other shoppers.
McKeever’s Market, which operates stores in Kansas and Missouri, is the first retailer to utilize the capability. Instacart says more retailers soon will offer the service.
“Caper Carts have been an excellent way to make shopping more efficient for our customers, from helping them maximize their budgets with real-time budget tracking to showing our SNAP customers what items are eligible for benefit use,” said Tim Cosens, CTO at McKeever’s.
“We’re excited to be the first retailer to make shopping smoother for SNAP households by enabling EBT card payment directly on Caper Carts.”
Smart cart pioneer
Last year, Caper Carts became the first smart carts to offer EBT SNAP-eligible item tracking for customers shopping in-store.
Customers can now view their EBT balance while shopping and check out on the cart using their benefits. Caper Carts also offer digital coupons, budget tracking, loyalty rewards and location-based coupons within the store.
“Customers using Caper Carts tell us they love tracking their spending, discovering deals right in the aisle and skipping the unload at checkout,” said David McIntosh, chief connected stores officer at Instacart.
“Adding EBT SNAP payments on Caper is another important step towards transforming the everyday grocery trip for families and ensuring every family has access to a seamless shopping experience.”
Research conducted by No Kid Hungry, the University of Kentucky and Instacart revealed that SNAP households appreciate the anonymity and convenience of online shopping, in part because it helps avoid potential stigma associated with using SNAP benefits in-store.
Determining eligibility
Instacart previously launched an anonymous SNAP Eligibility Screener, the first tool from a major online grocery platform that helps customers determine whether they’re eligible for food assistance through SNAP in less than 60 seconds.
More than 38 million people rely on SNAP benefits nationwide. The new feature uses end-to-end encryption and has been independently certified to meet payment security standards.
Caper Carts are found in more than 100 cities in 15 states at stores such as Kroger, Schnucks and Wakefern banners ShopRite and Fairway Market. Coles in Australia and Morrisons in the U.K. are coming online later this year.