Tops Markets expands food access with SNAP payments through DoorDash

Tops Friendly Markets customers can now use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to order groceries for delivery through DoorDash, marking a significant expansion in how families access food across upstate New York.

The grocery chain announced the new option Wednesday, allowing shoppers to use Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards directly within the DoorDash app to purchase eligible food items.

Company officials said the move is aimed at improving access to fresh and affordable food, particularly for households that rely on SNAP benefits.

“At Tops, we’re committed to taking care of our neighbors and strengthening the communities we serve,” President Ron Ferri said in a statement. “By expanding access to online grocery delivery for SNAP customers, we’re helping ensure more families can put fresh, healthy food on the table with greater ease and dignity.”

Through the partnership, customers can shop for a wide range of SNAP-eligible groceries, including fresh produce, dairy products, meat and pantry staples. The service also offers on-demand delivery, bringing groceries directly to customers’ homes.

However, not all costs can be covered by SNAP benefits. Items that are not eligible under the federal program — as well as delivery fees, service charges and tips — must be paid using another form of payment within the app.

The expansion reflects a broader trend among grocery chains and delivery platforms seeking to make online shopping more accessible to low-income households. Similar initiatives have been rolled out by other regional grocers, signaling growing demand for digital grocery options that accommodate public assistance programs.

Tops, which operates stores across upstate New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, has increasingly focused on convenience-based services such as delivery and online ordering in recent years.

For Rochester-area residents and others across the region, the change could remove longstanding barriers to food access — particularly for seniors, families without reliable transportation, and those balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.

The new SNAP-on-delivery option is available immediately through the DoorDash platform, according to the company.