- cross-posted to:
- leopardsatemyface@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- leopardsatemyface@lemmy.world
The shutdown will halt about $8 billion a month in federal food assistance. Walmart captures 24% of all SNAP shopper spending, according to Numerator’s 2025 SNAP Evolution report—triple Kroger’s share and far ahead of Costco, Amazon and Sam’s Club.
Walmart was the first retailer to accept SNAP online in all 50 states in 2023 and launched the Walmart+ Assist program, which offers half-price memberships for those receiving aid.
“If SNAP payments stop, spending by the lowest income groups will fall,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of data and analytics firm GlobalData. “Walmart gets a plurality of the spending, so it will be hit the hardest.”
This was somewhat epiphanic for me.
I already recognized companies such as Walmart were subsidizing pay through social programs such as SNAP and essential funneling/laundering tax payer money to their executives.
This headline made me further realize they’re not only making taxpayers subsidize wages, they’ve also effectively turned the USD into a form of company scrip. While that scrip can be spent at some other locations I bet a large percent of funneled right back to e.g. Walmart itself. If you already work at Walmart it makes spending your SNAP benefit there easier.
That’s also not including the increased shrinkage and turnover costs to Walmart
As their own workers get desperate, they’ll have to choose between going hungry and risking their job. Many will justifiably choose to steal, increasing shrinkage. Some will, inevitably, be caught increasing turnover. Both will cost Walmart
On the other hand, Walmart may see a boon as shoppers who typically spent their SNAP benefits at other stores go to Walmart with the little bit they have left due to the perceived cost savings
Walmart makes 20bn a year on the poorest of people in the country, so yeah, they can assume those are all-you-can-eat stores.