SNAP Store Type Definitions | Food and Nutrition Service

The following store type definitions include the store type name, two letter code, and a general description of how the store operates its business.

Store Type	Store Code	Definition
Convenience Store	CS	Self-service stores that offer a limited line of convenience items and are typically open long hours to provide easy access for customers. Primarily engaged in retail sale of a variety of canned goods, dairy products, pre-packaged meats and other grocery items in limited amounts. Usually sell a large variety of ineligible products; such as hot coffee, alcohol, or tobacco products.
Combination Grocery/Other	CO	Primary business is sale of general merchandise but also sell a variety of food products. Such stores include independent drug stores, dollar stores, and general stores.
Direct Marketing Farmer	DF	Designation applies to direct marketing farmers; these are individual producers of agricultural products, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as meat, fish, dairy, and/or grains that are sold to the general public through a direct marketing venue such as a roadside farm stand, pick-your own operation, and/or market stall within a farmers' market. This store type differs from fruit/vegetable, meat, fish, and bread specialty firms in that the products are sold directly by the producer (farmer) rather than a retailer selling produce, meat, dairy, and/or grains purchased from a wholesale or other entity (i.e. a third party selling products purchased from or on behalf of a farmer/producer is not a direct marketing farmer).
Delivery Route	DR	A store that does not have a permanent store location, this includes delivery routes that deliver food at set locations and times, as well as rolling routes. Routes typically sell milk, bread, produce or other staple foods and are most common in rural areas.
Farmers’ Market	FM	A single or multi-stall market that sells agricultural products, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables, to the general public at a single or multiple locations. This designation applies to any organization that operates a farmers’ market location.
Internet Retailer	IR	A store that accepts SNAP benefits on their website. A separate FNS authorization is required in order to participate in SNAP online purchasing.
Large Grocery Store	LG	A store that carries a wide selection of all four staple food categories. They may sell ineligible items as well, but their primary stock is food items.
Medium Grocery Store	MG	A store that carries a moderate selection of all four staple food categories. They may sell ineligible items as well, but their primary stock is food items.
Military Commissary	MC	Designation applies to all retail food entities, located on military installations that sell food and non-food products. Only authorized shoppers may shop at these entities and they must show proper military ID to use the commissary or Base Exchange.
Non-Profit Food Buying Cooperative	BC	Any store that operates as a “cooperative.”
Small Grocery Store	SG	A store that carries a small selection of all four staple food categories. They may sell ineligible items as well, but their primary stock is food items.
Specialty Food Store - Bakery/Bread	BB	Food stores specializing in the sale of bread/cereal products. May also carry non-food items or other food items, but such stock is incidental to the primary specialty food stock.
Specialty Food Store - Fruits/Vegetables	FV	Food stores specializing in the sale of fruits and/or vegetables that operates in a fixed or semi-permanent location. This includes any permanent store whose primary business is the sale of fruits/vegetables, such as a produce market; as well as any produce stand that does not qualify as a Direct Marketing farmer or is not affiliated with a farmers’ market. Seasonal produce stands qualify under this category. May also carry non-food items or other food items, but such stock is incidental to the primary specialty food stock.
Specialty Food Store – Meat/Poultry Products	ME	Food stores specializing in the sale of meat products. May also carry non-food items or other food items, but such stock is incidental to the primary specialty food stock.
Specialty Food Store - Seafood Products	SE	Food stores specializing in the sale of seafood products. May also carry non-food items or other food items, but such stock is incidental to the primary specialty food stock.
Supermarket	SM	Establishments commonly known as supermarkets, food stores, grocery stores and food warehouses primarily engaged in the retail sale of an extensive variety of grocery and other store merchandise. This store typically has ten or more checkout lanes with registers, bar code scanners, and conveyor belts.
Super Store/Chain Store	SS	Very large supermarkets, "big box" stores, super stores and food warehouses primarily engaged in the retail sale of a wide variety of grocery and other store merchandise. Includes stores that are large food/drug combo stores and mass merchandisers under a single roof, and membership retail/wholesale hybrids offering a limited variety of products in warehouse-type environment.

Page updated: November 14, 2023