US President Donald Trump has agreed to postpone enforcement of new federal food-stock requirements for retailers accepting food assistance benefits, following direct discussions with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The decision gives bodegas, convenience stores and other small retailers across the United States an additional 90 days to comply with the regulations.
Mamdani announced the development on Friday, November 13, saying he had personally raised the concerns of small business owners with Trump after receiving requests from more than 100 New York bodega operators.
“I spoke with President Trump and he agreed to give small business owners across America at least a 90-day extension to comply with new SNAP rules,” Mamdani wrote on X.
He added that “the concerns of the smallest businesses should always be raised to the highest levels of government”.
The agreement follows warnings from hundreds of New York bodega owners that the new requirements could put their businesses at risk by making it difficult for them to retain their authorisation to accept benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
According to an announcement from the New York City mayor's office, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will delay enforcement of the new stocking standards from November 13, giving retailers additional time to prepare.
What the new SNAP requirements mean for retailers
The revised USDA regulations require most stores authorised to accept SNAP benefits to maintain at least seven varieties of food in each of four staple categories: dairy, grains, protein, and fruits and vegetables.
This means retailers must stock at least 28 distinct varieties across the four categories, with three stocking units of each variety, bringing the minimum requirement to 84 units. They must also offer perishable food varieties in at least three of the four categories.
The rules were originally scheduled to be implemented on November 4 and apply to thousands of neighbourhood retailers, including bodegas, convenience stores and corner shops across the country. Specialty food stores and certain other categories of retailers are subject to different provisions.
The USDA's updated standards are intended to expand access to nutritious staple foods for SNAP beneficiaries. However, small retailers argued that they had not been given sufficient time to understand the requirements, source qualifying products and make the necessary investments.
The department issued implementation guidance on September 4, leaving businesses with roughly two months to prepare for the November deadline.
Mamdani said more than 100 New York bodega owners had contacted his office seeking additional time to meet the requirements.
“We formally raised those requests to the federal government, and I personally escalated them directly to President Trump,” he said at a news conference at City Hall.
His administration had also approached the USDA seeking a delay after retailers warned that failure to comply could result in the loss of their SNAP authorisation.
Bodega owners welcome additional time
The decision was welcomed by representatives of small retailers, who said the new requirements could have serious financial consequences for neighbourhood businesses operating on narrow profit margins.
Amr Abozaid, director of small business services at the Yemeni American Merchants Association, said the extension would help protect stores that depend heavily on SNAP transactions.
“Bodegas are operating on razor-thin margins. If we lose our SNAP, or if these stores lose their SNAP authorisation for six months, that could be the end of their businesses,” Abozaid said.
According to the New York City mayor's office, SNAP purchases account for around 15% to 20% of sales at a typical New York bodega, with some stores reporting an even higher dependence on the programme.
White House spokesperson Allison Schuster confirmed that the administration was willing to work with local leaders to support businesses affected by the regulations.
“This action offers retailers accepting SNAP 90 additional days to comply with staple food stocking requirements, making sure families have access to more dairy, fruits, vegetables, grains and protein,” Schuster said.
The extension does not scrap the revised stocking requirements. Instead, it provides retailers with additional time to adjust their inventories and meet the federal standards while continuing to accept SNAP payments.
SNAP enrolment declines in New York
The development comes amid changes to the federal food assistance programme and a decline in SNAP enrolment in New York City.
SNAP provides grocery assistance to millions of low-income Americans, helping eligible households purchase food. Nearly one in five New Yorkers relies on the programme.
Bodegas and neighbourhood convenience stores play an important role in making these benefits accessible, particularly in areas where residents have limited access to large supermarkets.
According to city figures cited by The City Reporter, SNAP enrolment in New York City fell to 1.61 million in August 2026, down from 1.79 million in July 2025, following federal changes to programme eligibility.
The proposed stocking requirements had raised concerns that smaller retailers could lose their authorisation, potentially leaving beneficiaries with fewer places to purchase groceries using their benefits.
The City Reporter noted that although expanding access to healthier food choices was a worthwhile objective, questions remained over whether the USDA's implementation timeline was practical for small businesses.
Joel Berg, chief executive of Hunger Free America, supported the broader objective but criticised the way the changes were being introduced.
“It's a good goal, but we don't approve of the way they're trying to implement it,” Berg said.
The 90-day extension is expected to provide some relief to retailers while the administration and local authorities continue to address concerns about the new standards. For neighbourhood businesses, the additional time could prove crucial in retaining their ability to serve SNAP recipients without facing the immediate financial pressure of complying with the revised requirements.