IRVING, Texas & PLEASANTON, Calif. -- ExxonMobil Corp. and Safeway Inc. are teaming up to give shoppers a new way to save at the pump. Customers can earn Reward Points for most products purchased at Safeway stores in the Mid-Atlantic region and redeem them at participating Exxon or Mobil locations.

The new loyalty program will help maximize the value and savings provided to Safeway and ExxonMobil customers through the combination of convenience and rewards, according to today’s announcement from the companies.

"Safeway listens to its shoppers, and we understand the importance of stretching grocery dollars," said Mir Aamir, president of customer loyalty and digital technologies at Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway, which operates 1,644 stores in the United States and western Canada. "By teaming up with ExxonMobil, we're able to thank our customers with a loyalty program that makes two frequent and critical purchases lead to real savings."

A recent Safeway survey revealed that one-third of families go out of their way to look for deals because saving money is important to them. Nearly three out of four people will drive out of their way to purchase more affordable gas, and 76 percent of consumers said they would change where they grocery shop and purchase gas to save money. More than a quarter of consumers spend up to $175 on gas and up to $300 on groceries each month.

"As one of the largest grocery retailers in North America, Safeway is an ideal partner, allowing us to reach consumers with a compelling new loyalty offering in the markets and cities where we both have a strong brand presence," said Simon Smith, Americas retail director, ExxonMobil Fuels, Lubricants and Specialties Marketing Co. "Through this program, consumers can achieve meaningful savings on their gas and diesel purchases simply by shopping at Safeway."

For every 100 Reward Points earned by shopping at the grocer with a Safeway Club Card, shoppers get a 10-cent-per-gallon fuel reward. Shoppers can use up to one dollar per gallon in rewards on a single fill-up, with a maximum of 25 gallons and a limit of one vehicle per transaction.

Reward Points can be earned at Safeway stores in the following ways:

• One point per dollar spent on eligible purchases.
• Two points per dollar spent when purchasing qualifying gift cards.
• One point per dollar spent on eligible pharmacy items.

At the participating gas stations, shoppers can redeem their Reward Points by simply swiping their Safeway Club Card or entering their linked phone number at the pump before fueling up. This loyalty program is currently available throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

As previously reported by CSNews Online, Safeway’s Vons division recently began rolling out a similar joint loyalty program with Chevron Corp.