Walmart’s WIC Online Grocery Program Expands—Is Louisiana Next?

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) – A retail giant just made a big move to modernize how low-income families access groceries—and it could soon affect thousands of families across Louisiana.

Walmart, one of the biggest names in retail, is now offering online grocery shopping for WIC recipients in select states, allowing participants in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program to buy eligible groceries through Walmart’s app or website. The rollout has started in Massachusetts and Washington, and while Louisiana isn’t on the list just yet, it’s a move that has serious implications for families right here at home.

This isn’t just a tech upgrade—it’s a shift that could change how families across the Bayou State put food on the table.

Why WIC Online Shopping Matters for Louisiana

Let’s start with the basics: Louisiana has one of the highest WIC participation rates in the country. That’s not surprising, given that we also rank near the top in food insecurity and child poverty. The WIC program provides nutritional assistance to pregnant women, infants, and children under five, but accessing that support can be a logistical headache—especially for rural families or those without reliable transportation.

Walmart is Louisiana’s largest grocery retailer by footprint. In many small towns, it’s not just the biggest store—it’s the only one. So when Walmart starts offering online WIC ordering with curbside pickup or home delivery, it’s a development Louisiana families should be paying close attention to.

Right now, those options are only available to WIC recipients in a few states as part of a USDA pilot program aimed at modernizing public assistance. But Louisiana already participates in online grocery shopping for SNAP recipients, and the infrastructure is in place for WIC to follow.

How It Would Work in Louisiana

If Louisiana joins the WIC online shopping program, here’s what families could expect:

WIC participants would use Walmart’s mobile app or website to select WIC-eligible groceries—think formula, milk, cereal, fruits, and vegetables. The platform would recognize their WIC benefits card at checkout, and they could then choose curbside pickup or home delivery. No more in-store hassle of finding eligible items or worrying whether something will ring up correctly.

And let’s be honest: If you’ve ever shopped with toddlers, you know what a blessing this could be.

This kind of streamlined access wouldn’t just make grocery shopping easier. It would expand access to healthy, affordable food options for low-income families, especially in Louisiana’s rural parishes, where transportation is often a barrier to food security.

Will Louisiana Get Left Behind?

That’s the big question. The USDA is letting states opt in to the WIC online shopping pilot, and 11 states have already done so. Louisiana isn’t on that list—yet. But with Walmart already serving as a major grocery source in nearly every parish, it’s hard to imagine Louisiana not eventually joining in.

Walmart executive Ryland Allen, who leads baby product merchandising, said the company’s goal is to “increase access to healthier options in every channel,” whether it’s in-store, online, or through delivery. That’s a message that should resonate here in Louisiana, where public health and economic challenges often go hand in hand.

The Bottom Line for Louisiana Families

This is about more than just convenience. WIC is a critical lifeline for tens of thousands of Louisiana families, and bringing it online could reduce barriers, modernize access, and help parents focus on what matters—taking care of their kids.

If we’ve learned anything from the SNAP modernization rollout, it’s that these programs don’t just save time—they improve lives.

So, is Louisiana next? Maybe it should be.