In a country-wide market where ultra-processed and easy-to-prepare products dominate shopping, you may be overlooking one group of loyal consumers. They are Ewic card users, looking for specific products that allow you to increase sales when strategically included in your inventory. It's time to boost your sales and make your store their favorite destination.
If you are ready to turn this opportunity into real growth for your business, find out how to attract this valuable segment and make a difference in your community!
💡What is the WIC Program?
It is a State Government program that benefits pregnant women, nursing mothers, babies, and children under 5 years old, to access food and pay for it through an electronic benefit card, eWIC. Currently, in the United States there are approximately 46,000 supermarkets authorized to receive eWIC payments and 9 million people receive this benefit. Profit figures for your establishment can benefit positively as sales of eligible products increase.
💡If you are not part of the WIC Program providers, access this link and find all the information.
What are the product requirements to comply with Ewic card sales?
We want to provide the most complete info on the requirements suggested by the government to operate with WIC (do not forget to always check the local regulations). Here are some product characteristics that supermarkets must have, inventory wise, to sell to the WIC program beneficiaries.
🍊 Fruits and vegetables: You can have any brand and a wide variety. Within the inventory, you can handle organic products.
What are the characteristics?
Fruits and/or vegetables should not be pre-cut or packaged in glass.
No packaged fruits or vegetables with added sugars and high sodium do not apply.
Nuts do not apply in this category.
🗞️ You may also be interested in this blog about organic products.
🫘 Beans, lentils and/or legumes: These foods should be natural, not refried. If they are canned, they should be unseasoned, low in sodium and have no additives.
🥣 Cereals: Check the eligible brands and remember that they must be whole grains (No added sugars or preservatives).
🌾 Whole grains: Brown rice, whole wheat bread, pasta and tortillas apply within this category.
💡 Always have them on your shelves and make sure they are WIC aproved brands.
🥤 100% natural juices: Check the brands you have in stock and make sure they apply to eWIC card sales. The containers must not be cardboard and should be refrigerated.
⚠️ Keep in mind that artificial juices with fruit flavor and high in preservatives do not apply.
🐟 Fishline: Fish such as tuna, salmon and sardines must be in your inventory.
🥛Milk: Milk should have no additives or artificial flavoring. It also applies to have powdered and lactose-free milk in your assortment.
⚠️ Note: Soy milk with no additives or artificial flavors apply.
🧀Cheese: This food should be handled in block presentation, it can be regular and/or low in sodium.
⚠️ Note: Can not be individually wrapped, nor belong to the sausage section. Spreadable product derivatives do not apply.
🚨Important tip: Make sure that the foods approved by this program are always available and visible to the customer, so they can easily find them!
Important recommendations for your grocery store:
If your supermarket receives payments with eWIC cards, the first thing we recommend is that you adjust your inventory and make sure your suppliers provide the products on the program's list. Keep these practical tips in mind, so you can operate better:
If you are a WIC supplier, remember that supermarkets must have the minimum amount of food approved by WIC Program officials available. Click here to find out what are the characteristics of the products you must have in stock.
This is super important!!. Keep in mind the price regulation, these must be competitive, since the Health Department does not take into account the businesses that sell food at excessive prices. That's why reviewing the standard prices should be a repetitive task. Set fair prices!
Organize and control food quality. Create strategies to supervise that they are not damaged and/or contaminated, as well as that they are packaged in containers, and in good condition. Verify the expiration dates of each product.
There are some rules to be part of this program, if you are a small business you must manage between one (1) and three (3) cash registers and if you are a large supermarket, you must have four (4) cash registers or more.
Remember that there are certain stipulated foods, but for the most part they must be low in sodium, no added sugar, and no preservatives.
Train your employees in the use of technology and remember that the electronic WIC benefits card, EWIC, is used as a conventional debit card.
Let your employees and customers know that the eWIC card only applies to the state where it is currently registered.
Make sure you have a POS system that can receive this type of payment and provide a better customer service experience.
If you still have doubts after this blog? Here are some links that may help you:
📌 If your super market is located in the state of Massachusetts (MA), this information is important for you. Click Here.
📌 If your supemarket is located in the state of Rhode Island, this is all you need to know to become a WIC provider. Click Here.
Note: The Rhode Island, RI Department of Health WIC Program serves over 28,000 residents, who make use of EWIC cards. If your supermarket is a vendor, here's a complete guide to the products customers can buy. Click here.
📌 If your supermarket is located in the state of Florida, this information is for you. Click here.
If your supermarket already manages the inventory proposed by the WIC Program but you are having difficulties operating services or you are tired of using different payment terminals for invoicing, we have a solution for you! With Universum you'll leave that problem behind, we offer you a terminal that allows you to accept WIC, OTC, EBT, credit and debit payments, call us at +1-888-507-6614 and we will provide you with the best service to integrate this payment method to your Point of Sales System, POS.
We can help you generate more sales with our services! If you want to know more about our benefits, visit our website: https://www.universumsolution.com
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