Nearly 250 US convenience stores and three trade bodies have urged US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to delay enforcement of a new stocking requirement, according to a report by Reuters.
Issued in May 2026, the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) final rule obliges retailers that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to stock a wider range of fresh produce and protein products by 4 November.
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The joint letter was put forward by the stores and trade associations such as the National Association of Convenience Stores, the National Association of Truck Stop Owners, and SIGMA: America’s Fuel Marketers. The letter argues that the USDA has failed to offer adequate guidance on fulfilling the updated requirements.
Signatories include 7-Eleven, Wawa, Sheetz and RaceTrac, as well as several independent retailers.
The trade bodies are requesting a six-month delay in enforcement. This is to take effect once the USDA provides further guidance, allowing retailers sufficient time to source appropriate suppliers, complete distributor arrangements and restructure inventory.
They also noted that convenience stores act as a vital food source for consumers working non-standard hours or lacking access to conventional grocery retailers.
Commonly referred to as food stamps, SNAP provides monthly grocery funding to low-income individuals and families, generally issued through an electronic benefit transfer card that operates in a manner similar to a debit card at participating stores.
Under the regulation, retailers are required to stock at least seven product varieties across four core categories—dairy, fruit or vegetables, grains and protein—totalling 28 varieties, to retain their SNAP eligibility.
Retailers that fail to comply risk being removed from the programme.
In response to the letter, a USDA spokesperson told the publication that the department “appreciates hearing from these trade associations and stands by to aid their member companies as they work to stock 28 varieties of staple food items”.
The letter points out that convenience stores represent the largest single retail category within SNAP, representing nearly half of all authorised outlets, with more than 117,000 locations participating nationwide.
