Costco To Honor Food Stamps – 2 NY Stores

by Spence Cooper on 28/05/09 at 9:49 am

Costco Accepting Food Stamps

Despite several huge food retailers like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Wal-Mart, all accepting food stamps, Costco had insisted on stranding weary consumers hit hard by the economic recession by refusing to accept food stamps.

Now, under pressure from civic-minded lawmakers, Costco — citing the very same economic recession — has announced that next month it will accept food stamps in two New York City stores: Astoria, Queens and Sunset Park, Brooklyn. But ONLY on a trial basis.

In a statement, the chief executive of Costco, James D. Sinegal, said:

In the past, we have not been convinced that there was sufficient demand among our membership to justify the expense and possible inefficiencies associated with accepting food stamps. However, we are mindful that many of our fellow citizens are facing unprecedented economic challenges at this time, and it seemed to us that it was worth reconsidering our position in that light.