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.
We can be concerned about both things equally, can’t we?
Edit I used the word “concerned” because I was responding to the comment above me and he said “concerned”. “Interested” would be a more suitable word because this is an interesting topic. We’re interested that Walmart is taking a hit and we’re also interested that snap people are taking a hit. It’s interesting. Tragic for the snap people but interesting for the demise of walmart.
Nah. Having seen small towns crushed when Walmart comes in and all the mom & pop shops close. So then your options to shop are Walmart or Amazon or drive to the next town. Fuck em.
Why would anyone avoid their local Walmart just to drive to the next town to use their Walmart?..
Can’t get in the car and say “no, not that one. Let’s go the nice one”if you don’t put in the work.
Why are you as equally worried about Walmart shareholders as you are starving people?
Ok then go back & re-read my comment & the comment I was replying to, and swap the word “concerned” for “interested.”
Equally would be tough for me. The cutting shifts of the workers will suck though. That’s near $ billion that doesn’t need to be shelved and onwards. (Possibly ordered).