Report Series - WIC Participant Access to Authorized Vendors Study

Report Series - WIC Participant Access to Authorized Vendors Study

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Series Overview

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Participant Access to Vendors study series is designed to provide insight into the geographic coverage and density of WIC vendors¹ (also referred to throughout this series as "retailers") across the United States and to assist states in ensuring they are providing adequate participant access to WIC foods in their communities.

WIC state agencies are responsible for authorizing and overseeing vendors that accept WIC food benefits. They must establish selection criteria that dictate what vendors may be authorized, in accordance with federally mandated criteria. Federal regulations (7 CFR 246.12) require state agencies to authorize a sufficient number and distribution of retailers to ensure adequate participant access to supplemental foods.

In FY 2025, FNS completed the WIC Participant Access to Vendors Study - Part 1 to identify where WIC vendors are located across the United States and how state agency policies may affect participant access to supplemental foods via authorized vendors. The WIC Participant Access to Vendors Study - Part 2 expands upon the Part 1 efforts by redefining what is considered "adequate" or "convenient"² participant access based on input from WIC state agencies, FNS national and regional staff, and other experts in the field. The Part 2 study will produce a toolkit or other resources to assist WIC state agencies in identifying and addressing gaps in adequate participant access in their state.

Series Reports

• WIC Participant Access to Vendors Study - Part 1
• WIC Participant Access to Vendors Study - Part 2 (expected 2027)

¹ Per federal regulation (7 CFR 246.2), vendor means a sole proprietorship, partnership, cooperative association, corporation, or other business entity operating one or more stores authorized by the state agency to provide authorized supplemental foods to participants under a retail food delivery system. Each store must have a single, fixed location, except when the authorization of mobile stores is necessary to meet the special needs described in the state agency's state plan in accordance with 7 CFR 246.4(a)(14)(xiv).
² Convenient access is a proximity-based measure defined as the availability of at least one WIC retailer within a one-mile driving distance in urban areas and a 10-mile driving distance, as defined by USDA's Economic Research Service.