US drugstore chain Rite Aid has expanded its partnership with Instacart to offer a new online payment option for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries. 

The integration of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) SNAP cards into the Instacart app allows SNAP participants to select from eligible products on the Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs digital storefronts.  

At checkout, customers can decide the amount of their SNAP benefit to allocate to their order.  

Rite Aid senior vice-president and chief marketing officer Jeanniey Walden said: "Our stores are a trusted retail destination for a wide selection of health and wellness products that meet our shoppers’ needs and fit within their budgets. 

"By offering this new payment option through Instacart, we are continuing our efforts to provide a flexible and convenient shopping experience for all customers. Broadening access to pantry staples and groceries connects our customers to the critical items they need, helping more families achieve whole health." 

The use of the EBT card service has been made available at more than 1,400 Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs locations across the US. 

The new online payment option provides convenient access to essential items for customers using SNAP benefits, with the added benefit of same-day delivery. 

EBT SNAP cards are accepted in-store at select locations. 

Instacart Health vice-president and general manager Sarah Mastrorocco said: “Today, we reach 96% of SNAP households in all 50 states and Washington DC, providing online SNAP acceptance and access to essential items, with affordable and convenient delivery. 

"As we expand with trusted retailers like Rite Aid, we’re enhancing our online selection to ensure everyday essentials are easily accessible to everyone in our communities." 

In March 2023, a US judge permitted Rite Aid to commence the voting process on a bankruptcy restructuring plan, Reuters has reported.