Grocers will pay steep price for SNAP restrictions

Proposed SNAP restrictions will cost grocers more than $1 billion, mainly due to necessary technology upgrades and increased labor costs. Trade groups estimate that supermarkets could lose $305 million and convenience stores $1 billion if food options, work requirements and eligibility rules are tightened. The report notes that “in general, most of the burden placed by changing state-level item-qualification rules falls on smaller stores by requiring more highly labor-intensive activities on an individual store basis.” The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says imposing SNAP food benefit costs on states would “worsen hunger,” noting that 14.9 million women — 63% of adult recipients — receive food assistance through SNAP.