Grocers Expand Fuel Discounts

CINCINNATI and WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Two grocers—The Kroger Co. and Shaw’s Supermarkets—are giving consumers a chance to save and celebrate during the holiday season, as both companies recently expanded their fuel discount programs.

Starting Nov. 1, Kroger will double fuel discounts on gift cards purchased in its stores through the end of the year. By purchasing gift cards for popular restaurants, retailers and entertainment outlets at Kroger stores, consumers will accumulate fuel discounts at double the cards’ purchased value, equaling 10 cents off per gallon for every $50 in gift cards, the company stated.

In addition, the grocer is offering discounts for the first time to pharmacy customers, who can earn fuel discounts on eligible prescriptions, and can earn 10 cents off per gallon in fuel discounts when they have two prescriptions filled at a Kroger pharmacy, according to the company.

"We are offering our customers another way to help maximize their time, travel and savings this holiday season," Don McGeorge, president and chief operating officer of Kroger, said in a statement. "Our expanded fuel discounts are designed to appeal to shoppers on any budget."

The program also rewards customers with a minimum of 10 cents off per gallon of gas for every $100 they spend in a store. Shoppers who use Kroger's 1-2-3 REWARDS MasterCard can also earn discounts up to 15 cents off per gallon of gas in participating markets, the company stated.

Customers who use a loyalty card accumulate and redeem fuel discounts by shopping at Kroger-owned stores and participating gas stations, under the banners Kroger, Baker's, City Market, Dillons, Fry's, Gerbes, Hilander, Jay C, King Soopers, Owen's, Pay Less, QFC and Scott's stores.

In other fuel discount news, Shaw's Supermarkets is extending the duration of Override, its gas savings program in partnership with Irving Oil and Dunkin' Donuts, until Dec. 31, reported Progressive Grocer sister publication to Convenience Store News. In addition, the number of Dunkin' Donuts locations participating in the program will grow by nearly 200 stores located in New Hampshire, according to the company.

Currently 78 Shaw's stores in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are participating in Override, the report stated. The original gas discount program debuted in New Hampshire Shaw's locations in July 2007, and rolled out in its present, more streamlined form at other Shaw's locations in late June.

Through the program, customers who shop at either participating Shaw's or Dunkin' Donuts stores can earn savings on their next gas purchase at more than 200 participating Irving Oil location when customers use their Shaw’s Reward Car o Dunkin’ Donuts card, the report stated.

At Shaw's, a minimum purchase of $50 earns a 10 cents per gallon discount on the next purchase of gas, while Dunkin' Donuts purchases totaling $20 earns a customer five cents off per gallon on the next gas purchase. Rewards are valid for 14 days from the date earned, and can be redeemed at Irving until Jan. 15, 2008, according to the report.
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