Retailers Offer Discounts, Donations to Ease Pain Amid SNAP Disruptions.

The Trump administration has agreed to use emergency funds to partly cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, but it could take “a few weeks to up to several months” before consumers begin seeing that money because of “procedural difficulties,” a U.S. Department of Agriculture official said in a court filing.

The administration currently has about half — $4.65 billion — of the $8 billion needed to fully fund SNAP for November.

With more than 40 million Americans expected to be affected by the potential loss of benefits, grocers are stepping in to offer relief. Save Mart, for example, recently discounted select meat and produce by 50%, with additional sales planned through the end of the year. The grocer is also offering low-cost Thanksgiving and Christmas meal deals, deeper digital discounts, free grocery delivery for online orders, and added promotions on items nearing their sell-by dates.

H-E-B is donating $5 million to Feeding Texas food banks and another $1 million to Meals on Wheels. Hy-Vee is giving $100,000 to Feeding America partner food banks and $25,000 to help DoorDash waive delivery and service fees for SNAP recipients.

Meanwhile, Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of The Premiere Networks nationally syndicated daily radio show “The Breakfast Club,” is also lending a hand to those in need. The South Carolina native is donating to a local organization in his home state that provides relief while the government shutdown remains in progress. Charlamagne is assisting the Broad River Business Alliance in Richland County, SC, which delivers emergency groceries and essentials to those in need.

However, retailers’ ability to help is constrained by USDA guidance that prohibits them from offering special discounts exclusively to SNAP customers.

The loss of SNAP funding would be painful not only for households that depend on the benefits for essential supplies, but also for retailers that rely on that spending.

An analysis by the National Grocers Association found that SNAP funding directly supports about 388,000 jobs and more than $20 billion in wages, and generates more than $4.5 billion in state and federal tax revenue.

According to USDA estimates, every $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.50 in economic activity. With the U.S. spending about $8 billion on SNAP each month, that equates to an estimated $12 billion in economic impact — underscoring how funding cuts could deepen a potential slowdown in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, major U.S. retailers and food manufacturers — including Walmart and Smithfield Foods — are preparing for a possible drop in November 2025, Reuters reported.

A potential suspension of SNAP, which supports nearly 42 million Americans, could create an estimated $8 billion revenue shortfall for grocers in November.

Industry groups and companies warn that the disruption could lead to lower supplier sales and reduced staff hours as beneficiaries cut back on spending.

According to USDA data cited by Reuters, 267,000 retailers are authorized to accept SNAP benefits, receiving $96 billion annually, or about $8 billion a month. Roughly three-quarters of that spending occurs at supermarkets and superstores.

Walmart accounts for 26.1% of total grocery spending from SNAP recipients, according to research firm Numerator.

Reuters, citing a note from research organization Bernstein, reported that Walmart, Dollar General and Dollar Tree could see fourth-quarter 2025 sales decline by less than 1% year over year if benefits are delayed, depending on the length of the disruption.

Packaged food manufacturers including Kraft Heinz, J.M. Smucker, General Mills and Tyson Foods may also experience a decline of a few percentage points in November sales if SNAP payments are suspended.