WIC participants can visit a WIC-authorized vendor (grocery store or pharmacy) of their choice, shop for WIC-approved supplemental foods, and complete the transaction at the cash register using an eWIC card.
Now Accepting New Vendor Applications
The MSDH WIC Program is now accepting new vendor applications. If you own a grocery store or pharmacy, your store may be eligible to become a WIC-authorized vendor and accept the eWIC card for WIC-approved foods. Please submit your application between February 1 and March 31, 2023. No applications will be accepted after this time.
Please review the vendor eligibility criteria, vendor authorization process, and required application documents to see whether you are eligible to apply. To apply, use our online application form below.
Vendor Advisory Session
Next vendor advisory session: April 20th, 12:00pm CT.
Vendor advisory meetings are used to share updates, gather information, and address vendor questions. Authorized vendors are advised to join. Announcements of upcoming vendor advisory sessions will appear here when they are scheduled.
If you have any questions, please e-mail the MSDH Vendor Management team at vmu@msdh.ms.gov.
Authorized WIC Vendors
WIC-authorized vendors who are able to accept eWIC payments.
Approved Infant Formula Manufacturers, Wholesalers and Distributors
The MSDH WIC Program is accepting requests for the approved infant formula manufacturer, wholesaler and distributor list. If you are a wholesaler or distributor providing infant formula in Mississippi and would like to be added to the approved list, please send an email to Jameshyia Ballard at vmu@msdh.ms.gov.
Please provide the following:
- proof that you are approved by the FDA
- proof the company is authorized/ licensed as a wholesaler or distributor in Mississippi
- a list of grocery stores and/ or pharmacies where you currently (or plan to) provide infant formula
- a list of other states where you are approved by a WIC Program to provide infant formula (if applicable), and
- a list of manufacturers where infant formula is procured, including the name and address.
Please note that approved manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors provide infant formula to grocery stores and/ or pharmacies. WIC authorized grocery stores and pharmacies must purchase infant formula only from the list of approved infant formula manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors.
Vendor Eligibility Criteria
Grocery Stores
Retail grocery stores must meet eligibility criteria to become an authorized WIC vendor. Special consideration may be given to locations in areas where WIC authorized vendors are needed for WIC participants to have adequate access to WIC approved foods.
- EBT-capable
- WIC Vendors must charge competitive prices.
- The State Agency (MSDH) will consider business integrity of a vendor applicant.
- An average of $1,000 in eWIC benefit redemptions over a period of 6 months shall be required to participate as a WIC Vendor.
- WIC Vendors must be in compliance with all federal, state and local licensing and permitting requirements including those of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Mississippi State Department of Health.
- WIC Vendors must be Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) authorized vendors in good standing with FNS.
- WIC Vendors must be open for business year-round at least 9 hours per day and 6 days per week.
- WIC Vendors must be a business whose primary purpose is to be a retail grocer. Direct distribution outlets and wholesale food establishments are not eligible.
- WIC Vendors must be in a fixed location.
- WIC Vendors must have a minimum of 9,000 square feet of continuous retail space allocated solely for food products.
- WIC Vendors must have a minimum of three (3) operational cash registers.
- WIC Vendors must be able to accept WIC benefits through the use of electronic benefits transfer (EBT). A store must have the use of an internet cable or use a system that is currently certified to accept WIC EBT online.
- WIC Vendors must be free of any conflict of interest, as defined by applicable state laws, regulations, and policies, between the vendor and the Program or its contracted providers.
- The State Agency (MSDH) will NOT authorize any vendors who expect to derive more than 50% of their store’s revenue from the sale of WIC foods.
- WIC Vendors are prohibited from offering incentive items solely to WIC participants in an effort to encourage participants to redeem their eWIC benefits at those stores.
- WIC Vendors must comply with all Federal Regulations including the United States Department of Agriculture Regulations at 7 CFR 246, state laws, rules, and regulations as they relate to WIC Vendors.
- WIC Vendors must be accessible to monitoring by state and federal officials without prior notice.
- WIC Vendors must obtain their infant formula from an approved source found in the State Agency's formula listing found on the WIC Program website.
- A store that has been sold by a previous owner(s) in an attempt to circumvent a WIC sanction shall not be authorized.
- WIC Vendors must stock a minimum variety and quantity of WIC approved supplemental foods.
Pharmacies
Retail pharmacies must meet eligibility criteria to be considered a WIC vendor. Special considerations may be given to locations in areas where WIC authorized vendors are needed for WIC participants to have adequate access to WIC approved infant formula and nutritionals.
- EBT-capable
- WIC Vendors must charge competitive prices.
- The State Agency (MSDH) will consider business integrity of a vendor applicant.
- WIC Vendors must be in compliance with all federal, state and local licensing and permitting requirements including those of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Mississippi State Department of Health.
- WIC Vendors who are Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) authorized must be in good standing with FNS.
- WIC Vendors must be open for business year-round at least 9 hours per day and 6 days per week.
- WIC Vendors must be a business whose primary purpose is to be a retail pharmacy.
- WIC Vendors must be in a fixed location.
- WIC Vendors must be free of any conflict of interest, as defined by applicable state laws, regulations, and policies, between the vendor and the Program or its contracted providers.
- The State Agency (MSDH) will NOT authorize any vendors who expect to derive more than 50% of their store’s revenue from the sale of WIC foods.
- WIC Vendors are prohibited from offering incentive items solely to WIC participants in an effort to encourage participants to redeem their eWIC benefits at those stores.
- WIC Vendors must comply with all Federal Regulations including the United States Department of Agriculture Regulations at 7 CFR 246, state laws, rules, and regulations as they relate to WIC Vendors.
- WIC Vendors must be accessible to monitoring by state and federal officials without prior notice.
- WIC Vendors must obtain their infant formula from an approved source found in the State Agency's formula listing found on the WIC Program website.
- A store that has been sold by a previous owner(s) in an attempt to circumvent a WIC sanction shall not be authorized.
Vendor Authorization Process
Retail grocery stores and pharmacies desiring to become WIC authorized vendors must complete a 7-phase authorization process, as described below.
Phase One: Vendor applicants must complete and submit all required application documents to the Program. All information MUST be complete.
Phase Two: The WIC Vendor application will be reviewed for completeness by the Vendor Compliance Analyst. Vendor applicants will be notified by email if the application is complete.
Phase Three: An on-site inspection to verify the accuracy of the information provided in the application will be conducted. The on-site inspection verifies whether or not the vendor meets all requirements.
Phase Four: A store representative responsible for training will be required to attend a new vendor training session. New vendor training will be offered regionally.
Phase Five: A WIC Vendor Agreement will be sent for the vendor’s signature after which it should be returned to MSDH for further processing.
Phase Six: The agreement will be in effect when all signatures have been obtained, training has been received, and the store is notified of the date it may begin to accept eWIC. The applicant is not allowed to accept eWIC until a fully executed agreement is in place. Any applicant found to be accepting WIC prior to having a fully executed agreement will not be authorized.
Phase Seven: Vendors must be certified by the WIC EBT processor to verify that the system is capable of making required eWIC transactions.
Required Application Documents
Required documentation to process applications:
Corporation or Partnership (ownership of 2 or more stores under one corporate entity)
- Vendor application
- Store brand declaration form
- Additional Store Attachment for each store
- Form W9
- Copy of Business License
- Copy of Food Sanitation License
- Copy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Permit
- Copy of Lease, Deed, or Bill of sale
- Grocery price survey
- Vendor technology survey
Sole Proprietorship (ownership of 1 store under 1 corporate entity)
- Vendor application
- Store brand declaration form
- Form W9
- Copy of Business License
- Copy of Food Sanitation License
- Copy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Permit
- Copy of Lease, Deed or Bill of sale
- Grocery price survey
- Vendor technology survey
Military Commissary
- Form W9
- Copy of lease, deed, or proof of ownership
- SNAP permit
- Vendor Application
- Store brand declaration form
- Grocery price survey
- Vendor technology survey
Pharmacy
- Vendor Application
- Form W9
- Copy of Lease, Deed or Bill of sale
- Pharmacy price survey
- Vendor technology survey
- Pharmacy License
Vendor Documents
Contact the WIC Vendor Management team at 1-800-359-7832 or vmu@msdh.ms.gov.
Nondiscrimination Statement | Declaración de No Discriminación
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can be obtained online at USDA.gov from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 - Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
- E-mail: program.intake@usda.gov
Declaración de No Discriminación
De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las normas y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA), esta entidad está prohibida de discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo (incluyendo identidad de género y orientación sexual), discapacidad, edad, o represalia o retorsión por actividades previas de derechos civiles.
La información sobre el programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas que no sean el inglés. Las personas con discapacidades que requieren medios alternos de comunicación para obtener la información del programa (por ejemplo, Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas americano (ASL), etc.) deben comunicarse con la agencia local o estatal responsable de administrar el programa o con el Centro TARGET del USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o comuníquese con el USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Retransmisión al (800) 877-8339.
Para presentar una queja por discriminación en el programa, el reclamante debe llenar un formulario AD-3027, formulario de queja por discriminación en el programa del USDA, el cual puede obtenerse en línea en: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, de cualquier oficina de USDA, llamando al (866) 632-9992, o escribiendo una carta dirigida a USDA. La carta debe contener el nombre del demandante, la dirección, el número de teléfono y una descripción escrita de la acción discriminatoria alegada con suficiente detalle para informar al Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles (ASCR) sobre la naturaleza y fecha de una presunta violación de derechos civiles. El formulario AD-3027 completado o la carta debe presentarse a USDA por:
- correo:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 - fax: (833) 256-1665 o (202) 690-7442
- correo electrónico: program.intake@usda.gov
Esta entidad es un proveedor que brinda igualdad de oportunidades.
