Fred Meyer and QFC are making it easier for people receiving federal food assistance to access groceries through online orders.
The grocery stores, both owned by Kroger Co., are piloting a new program allowing customers to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to pay for groceries delivered to their parked car or directly to their home.
While the two stores have been accepting SNAP benefits for years, shoppers weren’t able to use them for digital orders until now.
Customers who want to place an order online will need to create an account through the Fred Meyer or QFC app, or at the retailers’ websites. Users will then be able to add their electronic benefits transfer card — known in-state as an Oregon Trail card — to their account much like a credit card.
Once the account has been set up, shoppers can fill their online carts with SNAP-eligible items, opt to pick up the groceries or schedule a delivery time. Customers can’t use SNAP to cover convenience fees applied to the order, nor can it cover items that aren’t eligible for SNAP benefits.
Kroger’s Fred Meyer and QFC stores are not the first to allow shoppers to shop online with SNAP benefits. Safeway rolled out a similar program in 2022.
–Kristine de Leon; kdeleon@oregonian.com
