Tops Friendly Markets has begun allowing customers to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP) benefits for grocery deliveries through DoorDash, the regional supermarket chain announced on7 April. The initiative, the company says, is designed to improve food access for low-income families who may face barriers to visiting a physical store.
Tops, which operates 151 stores across New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, joins a growing list of retailers that have integrated SNAP payments with the delivery platform. According to Newsweek, other participating chains include ALDI, Dollar General, Safeway, Walgreens, Wegmans and 7-Eleven, among others.
How the Service Works for SNAP Recipients
Customers wishing to use the new feature must first add their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to their DoorDash account settings. From there, they can browse Tops products through the app, with eligible items clearly marked during the shopping process. At the checkout stage, the system automatically applies available SNAP credit to qualifying purchases, though shoppers retain the option to adjust the amount applied before confirming their order.
SNAP benefits are limited to eligible grocery items, meaning any non-qualifying goods, along with taxes, delivery fees and tips, must be paid separately using a debit card, credit card or DoorDash credits. Both eligible and non-eligible items can, however, be included within the same transaction.
The service covers a range of staple products, including fresh produce, dairy, meat and pantry essentials, according to Tops.Ron Ferri, president of Tops Markets, said the move reflected the company’s wider community commitments: “By expanding access to online grocery delivery for SNAP customers, we’re helping ensure more families can put fresh, healthy food on the table with greater ease and dignity.”
SNAP’s Reach and the Broader Shift Toward Online Food Assistance
SNAP is the largest food assistance programme in the United States, administered at the federal level and providing monthly benefits to low- and no-income households via EBT cards. The programme currently supports more than41 million Americans nationally, including nearly three million residents of New York state alone.
Benefits are loaded onto cards each month and can be spent at any participating retailer, both in-store and online. The expansion of SNAP acceptance through delivery platforms reflects a broader shift in how the programme is accessed, as retailers and technology companies move to accommodate changing consumer habits and the practical needs of benefit recipients.
DoorDash itself offers on-demand delivery from a range of local and national grocery chains, in some cases within an hour. Following an initial 30-day free trial of its DashPass subscription service, users are charged $9.99 per month or $96 annually, though discounted plans are available for students and those holding certain Chase credit cards.
Tops said customers seeking further information about the SNAP delivery option should visit the DoorDash website or app directly. The company’s store locator is available at its own website, topsmarkets.com.
Enjoyed this article? Subscribe to our free Newsletter for engaging stories, exclusive content, and the latest news.
