A new store in Green Bay is reducing food waste and helping people in need. It comes as some people are still struggling after a delay in SNAP benefits earlier this month from the government shutdown. Nov. 17, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A new store in Green Bay is reducing food waste and helping people in need.
It comes as some people are still struggling after a delay in SNAP benefits earlier this month from the government shutdown.
“I think food insecurity unfortunately is something that doesn’t just go away,” BE’s Refreshments National Accounts Executive Taylor Stahlke said.
Stahlke said BE’s Refreshments in Green Bay off of Bellevue Street is here to help the community.
The company opened a new outlet store with discounted, affordable food in early November.
The food is surplus from the company’s vending machines, micro-markets and caterings.
“When we have food that comes back rather than throwing it away, this is a great place to put it so that our community can take advantage of it,” Stahlke said.
The outlet store has everything from meals for individuals and families like meatloaf, chicken parmesan, enchiladas and more. It also has discounted snacks like chips and soda.
The store’s opening came with coincidental timing, when November SNAP benefits were still in doubt.
“We’ve definitely seen a need in our community,” Stahlke said. “There, for a few weeks were a lot of unknowns and this was a place where they were guaranteed that they could get a discounted meal a freezer meal that they can throw in the oven.”
BE’s Refreshments is still seeing high traffic, that’s despite SNAP benefits once again going out to recipients.
“Even though this is an absolute huge relief, we can’t forget that food insecurity was absolutely an important issue that we’re working through,” Feeding Wisconsin Executive Director Jackie Anderson said.
Anderson said initially, there was talk of families receiving only around 50% of their benefits.
But once full benefits were paid out on Nov. 6, many spent their credit all at once.
“There was so much fear not knowing what would happen in the future, so that is just human nature to want to get as much as you can right away,” Anderson said.
Much like the high traffic at BE’s Refreshments, food pantries and banks like Feeding Wisconsin are seeing a lot of new faces.
Anderson said despite November delays, December’s SNAP benefits will be on time.
BE’s Refreshments outlet store is now open to everyone Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The store will have a grand opening on Dec. 2.
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