Ken Kolb says SNAP cuts hurt both consumers and retailers

As part of the Trump administration’s signature domestic policy bill, an estimated $290 billion over the next 10 years will be cut from the Federal Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, or SNAP. Public radio stations WBHM (Birmingham, Alabama) and Red River Radio (North and Central Louisiana, East Texas, and South Arkansas) ran stories about what the cuts might mean for food insecure communities and grocery stores, especially independent retailers. The stations turned to Furman University’s Ken Kolb, chair and professor of the Sociology Department, for his insights.

According to the National Grocers Association, U.S. grocery stores get about 12% of their sales through SNAP. But for some stores in low-income areas, that number climbs to as high as 70%. Kolb explained that SNAP cuts could lead to store closures, increased prices, cuts in payroll at the retailers and overall fewer choices for consumers. “It hurts where people need it the most,” he said.

Among other books, Kolb is author of “Retail Inequality: Reframing the Food Desert Debate.”