Supermarkets say stop to SNAP benefits will hurt stores in rural areas
ALLENSTOWN, N.H. —
With Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits set to go on hold starting Saturday, grocery stores are worried about what that will mean for their bottom lines.
Nearly 75,000 households across New Hampshire use SNAP benefits, relying on the federally funded food assistance program each month. The ongoing federal government shutdown has threatened the program, with the Trump Administration saying it won’t use contingency funds to pay for the benefits.
The New Hampshire Grocers Association said SNAP benefits are often a big part of a supermarket’s sales, especially in rural areas.
>> Interactive: Who receives SNAP benefits in New Hampshire?
“We’ve seen some retailers start developing plans to add additional promotional items on staple foods to help assist with any lapse in SNAP funding,” said Kevin Daigle of the New Hampshire Grocers Association. “Grocers in rural or low-income areas are obviously going to be hit the hardest with the decrease in overall spending. For some of the retailers, the SNAP benefits make it possible for them to open in those underserved communities.”
Daigle said anyone who has a balance on their SNAP benefits card will be able to spend that money next month.
The association said it hopes to have more information available later this week.
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