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Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kroger gives its Boost membership program a temporary lift
This story was originally published on Grocery Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Grocery Dive newsletter. Kroger is adding an extra jolt to its Boost membership program as summer wears on, offering members additional savings for a two-week period. The 'Boost Bonus Days' promotion, which begins Wednesday and extends through July 29, includes the opportunity for shoppers to save more than $100 through a variety of deals on an unspecified assortment of grocery items. Customers will be able to redeem most of the offers up to five times during the promotion. Kroger is also offering $10 off a delivery order of at least $75 as well as a 50% discount on the cost of a new or renewed Boost membership during the promotion. The limited-time benefits apply to both Kroger Boost tiers, which are distinguished from one another by the type of delivery benefit they provide. The base level, which costs $69 per year or $8.99 per month, provides free next-day delivery, while the premium tier provides free same-day delivery at an annual cost of $99 per year or $12.99 a month. Both Kroger Boost levels require a minimum purchase of $35 for free delivery. In April, Kroger raised the annual cost of the lower-priced version of Boost by $10 per year and increased the monthly fee by $1. Kroger Boost benefits augment the features of the grocer's standard loyalty program, Kroger Plus. Kroger offers free pickup on orders that meet a $35 threshold for all loyalty program members. The Boost Bonus Days program reprises a similar promotion Kroger ran for two weeks last July, but comes with a different package of discounts. In 2024, Kroger's Boost Bonus Days initiative offered Boost members over $60 in savings that encompassed free private label goods including cookies, bacon and pasta in addition to price reductions on other products carrying the grocer's brands. Kroger said earlier this year that it would focus on boosting customer loyalty as it looked to juice growth following its unsuccessful effort to merge with Albertsons. 'Looking to 2025, we have aggressive plans to build more stores and improve our share results, attract new households and increase loyalty, which will accelerate growth and create shareholder value,' Kroger interim CEO Ron Sargent said during the supermarket company's fourth-quarter earnings call in March. Recommended Reading Kroger is striving for e-commerce profitability. What will it take to get there?
Miami Herald
15-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Kroger gives its Boost membership program a temporary lift
Kroger is adding an extra jolt to its Boost membership program as summer wears on, offering members additional savings for a two-week period. The "Boost Bonus Days" promotion, which begins Wednesday and extends through July 29, includes the opportunity for shoppers to save more than $100 through a variety of deals on an unspecified assortment of grocery items. Customers will be able to redeem most of the offers up to five times during the promotion. Kroger is also offering $10 off a delivery order of at least $75 as well as a 50% discount on the cost of a new or renewed Boost membership during the promotion. The limited-time benefits apply to both Kroger Boost tiers, which are distinguished from one another by the type of delivery benefit they provide. The base level, which costs $69 per year or $8.99 per month, provides free next-day delivery, while the premium tier provides free same-day delivery at an annual cost of $99 per year or $12.99 a month. Both Kroger Boost levels require a minimum purchase of $35 for free delivery. In April, Kroger raised the annual cost of the lower-priced version of Boost by $10 per year and increased the monthly fee by $1. Kroger Boost benefits augment the features of the grocer's standard loyalty program, Kroger Plus. Kroger offers free pickup on orders that meet a $35 threshold for all loyalty program members. The Boost Bonus Days program reprises a similar promotion Kroger ran for two weeks last July, but comes with a different package of discounts. In 2024, Kroger's Boost Bonus Days initiative offered Boost members over $60 in savings that encompassed free private label goods including cookies, bacon and pasta in addition to price reductions on other products carrying the grocer's brands. Kroger said earlier this year that it would focus on boosting customer loyalty as it looked to juice growth following its unsuccessful effort to merge with Albertsons. "Looking to 2025, we have aggressive plans to build more stores and improve our share results, attract new households and increase loyalty, which will accelerate growth and create shareholder value," Kroger interim CEO Ron Sargent said during the supermarket company's fourth-quarter earnings call in March. Copyright 2025 Industry Dive. All rights reserved.
Miami Herald
09-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Kroger makes major store change amid discrimination accusations
Over the past few years, supermarket chains have faced heat for their increased use of digital coupons. In 2022, a coalition of national consumer groups sent a letter to supermarket industry leaders, flagging that digital coupons amount to "digital discrimination." Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter "For a significant segment of the population – the millions without internet access or a smartphone – sale items in weekly store circulars designated as 'digital,' 'digital-only,' 'digital coupon,' or 'digital offer' are simply unavailable to them," reads the letter. Related: Target has another big problem amid alarming customer behavior "As a result, people who are often elderly or with limited income, are forced to pay higher grocery prices than their more tech-savvy counterparts." The coalition urged supermarket leaders to "bridge this digital divide" by offering an offline alternative to digital coupons. Amid this push, Kroger (KR) has decided to make a significant change in its stores. Over the past few weeks, Kroger has been placing "Weekly Digital Deals" flyers at its store entrances that contain pictures of its digital offers, according to a recent report from the Detroit Free Press. Customers who have loyalty cards can obtain these deals by scanning the barcode on the flyer at self-checkout machines or registers. "Scan your Card or enter your Alt ID at checkout, then scan this Weekly Digital Deals flyer to automatically clip each digital coupon," reads a new sign at Kroger store entrances. Related: Sam's Club makes big change to products as customers switch gears The sign also states that coupons can be used up to five times per transaction and that new deals are available weekly. "We are always listening to our customers to create a better shopping experience," said a Kroger spokesperson in a statement to the Detroit Free Press. "To make it simpler for our customers to take advantage of the full value our stores offer, we are providing an easy-to-use flyer that customers can scan to save with digital coupons." The move from Kroger comes after its CEO, Ron Sargent, warned during an earnings call last month that the company's customers are cutting back their spending. "Customers continue to spend cautiously in an uncertain economic environment," said Sargent. "Many customers want more value, and as a result, they're buying more promotional products and more Our Brands products. They're also eating more meals at home." He also said that customers are relying heavily on coupons to save money, despite Kroger lowering prices on over 2,000 products earlier this year. More Retail: Costco quietly plans to offer a convenient service for customersT-Mobile pulls the plug on generous offer, angering customersAT&T makes generous offer to older customers "We are kind of seeing a shift into larger pack sizes and increased use of coupons," he said. "We're seeing some discretionary spend that's a little softer in areas like snacks and adult beverages, pet, general merchandise categories. "So, you know, I think in terms of the consumer, we expect the consumer to remain cautious throughout the year. And we're responding to that with simpler promotions, coupons, lower prices, and a lot of own brand choices." Amid this major change in customer behavior, Kroger announced plans last month to close 60 low-performing stores nationwide over the next 18 months. "We don't take these decisions lightly, but this will make the company more efficient, and Kroger will offer roles in other stores to all associates currently employed at affected stores," said Sargent during the call. "To recap, our top priorities are clear. We're going to move with speed. We're gonna concentrate on our core business, and we're gonna run great stores. This is how we'll position Kroger for long-term performance." Related: Amazon pulls the plug on a free service for customers The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Kroger Stores Make Change to Coupon Policy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Kroger, one of the United States' largest supermarket chains, introduced a new policy at select stores that allows shoppers to access digital-only discounts via printed flyers, addressing concerns from those unable to benefit from online coupons. A spokesperson for Kroger told Newsweek: "We are always listening to our customers to create a better shopping experience. To make it simpler for our customers to take advantage of the full value our stores offer, we are providing an easy-to-use flyer that customers can scan to save with digital coupons." FILE - A customer loads his truck after shopping at a Kroger grocery store on September 09, 2022 in Houston, Texas. FILE - A customer loads his truck after shopping at a Kroger grocery store on September 09, 2022 in Houston, It Matters The shift underscores the ongoing challenge posed by the digital divide, particularly among the elderly and lower-income shoppers. Digital-only coupon systems left out those who lacked reliable internet or smartphones, creating a disparity in grocery pricing and access to essential savings. According to two 2021 Pew Research Center reports, one in four adults aged 65 and over did not use the internet in 2021, and 13 percent of adults in low-income households lacked access to the internet whether through a smartphone or broadband, resulting in missed savings opportunities. What To Know Printed "Weekly Digital Deals" sheets are now available at entrances and customer service desks in participating Kroger-operated stores, including QFC and Fred Meyer locations in Seattle, according to a report by KOMO News. With these sheets, customers can scan a single barcode at checkout to access all advertised discounts, streamlining a process that otherwise required internet access and a smartphone. The new printed deal option has not yet been implemented chain-wide across all Kroger-owned grocery stores, the report said. During a recent earnings call, Kroger executives recognized the need for promotions that are "simple and accessible for all customers" but have not detailed a timeline or plan for company-wide implementation of the printed deals option. Earlier this year, Kroger was voted the 5th most trusted grocery and convenience store in the U.S. in Newsweek's 2025 ranking of America's Most Trustworthy Companies. "We work to earn trust every day by delivering great quality food at low prices," said Ron Sargent, Kroger's chairman and CEO. What People Are Saying Kroger CFO David Kennerley said during the earnings call: "Rather than a customer having to get out their phone to get a digital coupon in-store, we're trying to make the customer experience in-store much easier for them." Edgar Dworsky, founder of Consumer World, Checkbook, per KOMO News: "Kroger is finally doing something good for consumers who have been cut out of being able to use digital coupons." What Happens Next The Kroger spokesperson didn't specify which store brands and locations had adopted the printed "Weekly Digital Deals" flyers, or if the initiative was permanent.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kroger turns to AI for inventory security, experience boosts
This story was originally published on CIO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CIO Dive newsletter. Kroger will continue investing in AI as tools enable better product visibility and productivity, leading to reduced inventory loss or shrink and improved talent retention, executives said during the grocer's Q1 earnings call in June. 'We've seen good progress [around shrink],' SVP and CFO David Kennerley said during the call. 'What we really attribute this to is we've made some investments in some AI-enabled technology and deployed new processes around that technology.' The company also launched a virtual AI assistant for its associates, which it partly credited for record levels of store and company retention during the quarter. 'When our associates stay longer, they learn more, take on additional responsibilities and deliver a better customer experience, which leads to better sales,' said interim CEO Ron Sargent. Kroger is doubling down on AI while keeping savings top of mind, joining a cost-conscious group of businesses making similar moves. The grocer will close 60 underperforming stores by the end of next year as it reassesses capital allocation and 'aggressively' finds ways to reduce costs throughout the company, according to the earnings call. Kroger sees AI and other technologies as part of the solution, too. 'The other thing that will also contribute towards better cost performance is what I call ways of working and process improvement,' Kennerley said. 'There's a lot of opportunity here to work smarter, more efficiently, more tech-enabled, and we've already got some good proof points on that.' Excluding fuel, identical-store sales ticked up 3.2% during Q1 2025, which ended May 24, compared with the same period last year. Kroger characterizes a store as identical if it operates without expansion or relocation for five full quarters. Kroger's once-sought-after merger partner, Albertsons, has similarly sharpened its technology focus while eyeing cost-saving measures. 'Our North Star is to use technology in everything that we do,' Albertsons CEO Susan Morris said during the company's Q4 2024 earnings report in April. As part of the strategy, the Idaho-headquartered grocer plans to increase AI use to enhance product quality and monitoring for freshness as it looks to drive higher sales and better customer experiences. The efforts also align with Albertsons' three-year plan to cut $1.5 billion in costs that rolled out after the merger failed.
