Best Credit Card for Food Lion in 2026
Food Lion is classified under MCC 5411 (Grocery Stores, Supermarkets). The best card for Food Lion purchases is the Freedom Flex (no annual fee), earning 5x on grocery stores, supermarkets — an effective return of 10.25%.
Does Food Lion accept Mastercard? Yes — Food Lion accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover at all locations, including in-store and mobile app payments.
Grocery stores like Food Lion are crucial for everyday spending, and they fall under the MCC category covered by many rewards cards, especially those focused on groceries.
To maximize your rewards, consider setting up automatic purchases for items you always need at Food Lion to rack up those valuable points consistently.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 a month at Food Lion, using a card that earns 6x points here is far better than a standard 1% cash back card: $144 in annual earnings versus just $24.
Food Lion purchases are classified under MCC 5411 (Grocery Stores, Supermarkets).
MCC Details for Food Lion
Best Credit Cards for Food Lion (2026)
How Food Lion Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Food Lion at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5411 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a grocery stores, supermarkets merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "grocery stores, supermarkets" purchases, Food Lion transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Food Lion specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Food Lion transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5411 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Food Lion
About MCC 5411: Grocery Stores, Supermarkets
Merchant Category Code 5411 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Grocery Stores, Supermarkets industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5411, all qualifying card programs that include grocery stores, supermarkets as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Retail industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Grocery Stores, Supermarkets merchants: 99 Ranch Market, Acme Markets, Albertsons.
What You Could Earn at Food Lion
Spending $200/month at Food Lion with the Freedom Flex (5x on grocery stores, supermarkets) earns approximately $120/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $96 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The AAA Daily Advantage earns 5x at Food Lion merchants, earning $120/year with no annual fee.