HONOLULU — 7-Eleven Hawaii will soon launch online electronic benefits transfer (EBT) so customers who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, can use their SNAP benefits online like they do in-store.
All SNAP-eligible products online can be ordered without the need for a credit or debit card for home delivery, pickup and catering orders. Orders that contain a mix of SNAP-eligible and SNAP-ineligible items can still be made using a combination of an EBT card and traditional payment, as with in-store transactions.
Vroom Delivery and 7-Eleven Hawaii have been working on this program together for more than a year with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to ensure all workflows and security measures adhere to FNS regulations. Any retailer on the Vroom platform can now also elect to offer this service to its customers, and Vroom Delivery said it expects several retailers to launch within the coming months.
“This has been the most time-intensive project that we have undertaken as a company in the past two years,” said Vroom Delivery CEO John Nelson. “We decided to dedicate these resources because we believe that this is a necessary addition to our platform for both retailers and their customers who rely on these programs to purchase their food and groceries. Many food stamp recipients have no access to online, on-demand home delivery options that allow them to utilize their SNAP benefits, and therefore we are proud to be the first to in this industry to launch this service with our partner 7-Eleven Hawaii, as well as with our future participating retailers.”
“We are thrilled to accept online EBT payments for customers who utilize our delivery and pickup services” said Danielle Takahashi, assistant category manager at 7-Eleven Hawaii. “As a result, the everyday favorites from 7-Eleven Hawaii are now more convenient and accessible than ever for our customers statewide.”
The online SNAP program is independent of in-store SNAP programs, and as such retailers must apply separately in partnership with an e-commerce platform that has been certified by FNS.
Founded in 2016 with headquarters in Chicago, Vroom Delivery helps c-stores deploy e-commerce services, providing the technical aspects required for chains of convenience stores to operate and manage their own e-commerce and delivery services.
- 7-Eleven Hawaii is No. 105 on CSP's 2021 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by number of company-operated retail outlets.
7-Eleven Hawaii was formed in 1989 and has 65 locations serving the communities of Oahu, Big Island, Kauai and Maui. Known for its brands such as Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp, the retailer has expanded its food and beverage offerings to meet local preferences. 7-Eleven Hawaii is a franchised area that reports to Tokyo-based Seven-Eleven Japan, not 7-Eleven Inc. in Irving, Texas.
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