EXPANDED MERCHANT GUIDE · VISA · OCTOBER 2026
MCC 5499:
Miscellaneous Food Stores – Convenience Stores and Specialty Markets
Specialty-food and convenience retail. Ordinary convenience and specialty-food sales involve stocked goods and prompt handover; the actual catalog remains important.
View the source & scope ↓THE CLASSIFICATION
What does MCC 5499 cover?
Specialty-food and convenience retail.
The code belongs to the Food & groceries group in this directory. The acquirer must confirm the appropriate assignment for the merchant and the relevant card network.
ILLUSTRATIVE BUSINESS FIT
What could a matching business look like?
- A neighborhood convenience market
- A specialty health-food shop
- A gourmet food store
These examples illustrate the classification. They are not verified NUMUS customers or confirmed transaction-level assignments.
LOOK BEYOND THE LABEL
Risk & provider review
Ordinary convenience and specialty-food sales involve stocked goods and prompt handover; the actual catalog remains important.
Why this category sits here
- Stocked food
- Product mix
Operating assumptions
Ordinary lawful stocked merchandise, transparent pricing and prompt handover or documented delivery.
What could raise the risk?
- Concentrated supplements or regulated products
- Remote subscriptions or unsupported product claims
Assessment basis: Individual business-category assessment. This is an editorial category assessment, not a bank’s rating, an individual merchant decision, a forecast of losses or a promise of approval.
How we assess risk & source references ↗No specific high-integrity-risk flag is reproduced here from the reviewed Visa classification section. This is not an exemption or a finding that no other requirements apply.
Questions worth preparing
- What share of sales comes from food, fuel and other merchandise?
- Are age-restricted or regulated products offered?
- Does the business also prepare meals, deliver orders or offer subscriptions?
Your provider may also ask about transaction size, monthly volume, refunds, disputes, customer locations and delivery timing. Use your actual business facts when discussing the code.
THE DISTINCTIONS MATTER
Nearby codes to understand
Compare the definitions rather than choosing whichever code appears more favorable. Separate activities or network rules can change the correct treatment.
CHECK THE REFERENCE
Source, date & scope
Code and classification reference: Visa Merchant Data Standards Manual, October 2026. Directory reviewed November 3, 2026.
Visa source · PDF page 64 · printed page 61 ↗Network descriptions and requirements can differ. This entry does not assert complete Mastercard coverage. Confirm current classifications and any special registration requirements with your acquirer.
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THE BUSINESS BEHIND THE CODE
Find processing that fits
your actual business.
Your MCC is one piece of the conversation. Tell NUMUS what you sell, how you deliver it, and how your customers pay. We’ll help you take the next step.