Latest news with #loyaltyProgram
Globe and Mail
01-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Can Sprouts Farmers Sustain Its 11.7% Comp Sales Momentum?
Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. SFM reported a robust 11.7% comparable store sales growth in the first quarter of 2025. The growth was broad-based across categories and geographies, fueled by increased foot traffic and a 28% surge in e-commerce. SFM's focus on health-driven, specialty products continues to resonate with its core customer base, while its private label offerings, now contributing 24% of total sales, further strengthen the overall performance. However, sustaining this level of performance through the remainder of the year remains a question. Comparable store sales also got a boost from temporary events, including a conventional grocer strike in Colorado and increased vitamin sales due to the intense cold and flu season. These external factors contributed about 50 basis points to the comp growth. Nonetheless, Sprouts Farmers remains fundamentally strong. The planned rollout of the loyalty program in the second half of 2025 may provide another catalyst for growth. By enhancing personalization and streamlining the omnichannel experience, the program aims to increase both customer frequency and basket size. Furthermore, investments in supply chain optimization, including self-distribution of fresh meat and seafood, are expected to improve product quality and efficiency. For the second quarter, management anticipates comparable store sales growth to moderate to a range of 6.5% to 8.5%. The company projects growth between 5.5% and 7.5% for full-year 2025, noting that the upcoming results will be measured against stronger sales from the latter part of 2024. This guidance suggests a normalization from the first-quarter surge, but still indicates healthy comparable sales performance. How Do DG and TGT Stack Up Against SFM's Sales Surge? Dollar General Corporation DG reported a 2.4% increase in first-quarter fiscal 2025 same-store sales, driven by a 2.7% rise in the average transaction amount, though partially offset by a 0.3% decline in customer traffic. Dollar General saw growth across all key product categories, including consumables, seasonal, home products and apparel. Dollar General now expects same-store sales to rise between 1.5% and 2.5% compared to its prior forecast of 1.2% to 2.2%. Target Corporation TGT experienced a 3.8% decline in comparable sales, following a 1.5% increase in the preceding quarter. This drop was attributed to a 5.7% fall in Target's comparable store sales, which was somewhat offset by a 4.7% increase in comparable digital sales. Target highlighted that traffic, or the number of transactions, dropped 2.4%, and the average transaction amount decreased 1.4%. SFM's Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates Sprouts Farmers stock has been a standout performer, with shares rallying 29.6% year to date, outpacing the industry 's growth of 14.8%. From a valuation standpoint, SFM's forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio stands at 1.74, higher than the industry's ratio of 0.26. SFM carries a Value Score of C. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sprouts Farmers' current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 13.7% and 35.5%, respectively. Sprouts Farmers Market currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Only $1 to See All Zacks' Buys and Sells We're not kidding. Several years ago, we shocked our members by offering them 30-day access to all our picks for the total sum of only $1. No obligation to spend another cent. Thousands have taken advantage of this opportunity. Thousands did not - they thought there must be a catch. Yes, we do have a reason. We want you to get acquainted with our portfolio services like Surprise Trader, Stocks Under $10, Technology Innovators, and more, that closed 256 positions with double- and triple-digit gains in 2024 alone. See Stocks Now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Target Corporation (TGT): Free Stock Analysis Report Dollar General Corporation (DG): Free Stock Analysis Report Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM): Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carnival Cruise Line rep threatened over loyalty program changes
Carnival Cruise Line rep threatened over loyalty program changes originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Getting upset is a natural reaction to news you don't like, but no matter how angry you are, please don't shoot the messenger. If you're one of the many loyal Carnival Cruise Line passengers who are unhappy about the overhaul of the cruise line's loyalty program, you're certainly welcome and encouraged to share constructive feedback with the cruise please don't make the mistake of thinking your anger gives you any right or reason to threaten and insult the cruise line's brand ambassador, president, or other employees. Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald, who diligently responds to hundreds of passenger questions and complaints every day on his popular Facebook page, doesn't deserve the onslaught of nasty comments coming his way in the aftermath of the loyalty program announcement. Sure, he's a voice for Carnival Cruise Line, but more importantly, he's a voice for its passengers. Besides communicating important cruise line information to Carnival passengers on Facebook, Heald represents Carnival cruisers and their interests. He doesn't just respond to passenger comments, he meticulously addresses them and constantly gathers feedback to share with decision-making Carnival executives. He handles passenger comments with remarkable patience and compassion, even though disgruntled cruisers often write to him in a rude truly listens to and cares about Carnival passengers, and he works hard to ensure that their concerns and requests are taken seriously as the cruise line evolves its loyalty program, ships, and offerings. Even though he deals with rude comments from inevitable unsatisfied passengers every day, Heald continues to put cruisers and their interests first. After sharing details of the new Carnival Rewards loyalty program at the end of his day on June 18, he immediately went to work the next day to gather passenger feedback about the loyalty program the brand ambassador began to answer questions and respond to concerns about the program with intentions to share constructive criticism with his colleagues, he was shocked by an unfortunate pattern of rude, and even threatening, comments. While many loyal passengers shared their frustration and plans to 'jump ship' to sail with another cruise line, some went too far and took their anger out inappropriately. Heald didn't just ignore those comments though, he addressed them head on.'To the few who threatened me and threatened my family and made terrible vile remarks against the people I work with at the mothership in Miami, well, I hope you never cruise with us again,' Heald wrote in a comment he posted on the June 19 edition of his daily three-minute video update for his followers. He even expressed wishes for those people to be banned from sailing on any cruise line. 'Your promise to cruise with another cruise line after writing those disgusting comments is something I wish I could forward to other cruise lines to suggest that they stop you from cruising there, but sadly, I can't,' Heald continued. 'Thank goodness they are a very small minority.' More Carnival cruise news:The brand ambassador also stressed that he understands passengers' frustrations over the new loyalty program and will 'fight the good fight' on their behalf. 'I know people are frustrated and I promise, I absolutely promise, that I will do everything I can to represent you and to be your voice,' Heald insisted. 'And those who truly know me know that I am very sincere in that. Thank you so much, and I hope we see you all having fun with us again very soon.' (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Royal Caribbean cruisers react to Carnival cruise loyalty shakeup
Royal Caribbean cruisers react to Carnival cruise loyalty shakeup originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. As Carnival Cruise Line revealed details of its overhauled cruise loyalty program on June 18, it wasn't just Carnival cruisers who recoiled. Carnival Rewards, a spend-based rewards program set to roll out in June 2026, has many cruisers reeling, even some who don't sail with the cruise new program appears to require passengers at the highest tiers to spend tens of thousands of dollars each year to maintain their elite status, and it could open the door for other cruise lines to do the same. Carnival's new spend-based loyalty program isn't a completely new concept — most airlines and hotels already follow this type of model, but the cruise industry has been slow to evolve. What do Royal Caribbean cruisers think about the new program and what it could mean for the cruise industry? Many "loyal to Royal" cruisers made their opinions clear in a discussion in the Royal Caribbean community on Reddit.'The new program Carnival announced yesterday rewards money over loyalty. Do you think this is something Royal and the other lines will try to adopt?' Redditor oOoOsarahOoOo asked fellow Royal Caribbean cruisers. 'If so, would cruisers stay loyal to Royal, or would this be a reason to try other brands?' A number of cruisers reasoned that Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines will likely follow suit in a few years, if Carnival reports that the change increases revenue. 'I think the other cruise lines are going to wait to see how this affects Carnival's business. If there's not too much of a difference, or somehow Carnival's earnings go up with this reward program? You will 100% see other cruise lines adopt this model,' CricketCapital4095 other travel loyalty programs increasingly reward travelers based on their spending, it's not surprising that cruise lines would follow. 'This is an extremely logical move for [Carnival] to make, despite how many people are deep in their feels about it, and I'd bet the cost of my next cruise that other lines will follow suit within a couple of years of Carnival's first earnings call after this goes into effect,' baltinerdist added. Commenters also pointed out that if the industry moved in this direction, cruisers may be more inclined to sail with multiple cruise lines rather than stay loyal to one in order to gain status.'If there is no loyalty program, then why be loyal,' Routine_Day_1276 questioned. 'That's the entire reason for it. Granted, you don't get a lot for being loyal, but anything that isn't an insult is better than nothing. In my opinion, what Carnival did is an insult to everyone who has been loyal. So no, if Royal went that route, I would not be loyal to them anymore.' Royal Caribbean cruisers don't want the cruise line to change its popular Crown & Anchor loyalty program. Like Carnival's current VIFP Club, Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor program rewards cruisers based on nights sailed.'I very much hope Royal realizes that by having the best loyalty program in the industry, they would have the most to lose by making drastic changes to Crown & Anchor,' xAdray commented. Still, if the Carnival Rewards program proves successful, Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines would likely begin to incorporate spending-based rewards into their loyalty programs in some way. 'Even if other cruise lines don't adopt the Carnival-specific model, I wouldn't be surprised if an 'onboard spending' category was added as a way to retain top-tier status. It's all about capturing dollars on board for the cruise lines,' CricketCapital4095 pointed out. 'If you're top-tier status but don't spend much on board, why would a cruise line much care about your loyalty status? More than likely those customers cost cruise lines money in some capacity,' CricketCapital4095 added. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Morrisons warning for thousands to visit shops before Sunday – or lose out on chance to claim £30 worth of free products
MORRISONS shoppers have just days left to cash in on a popular loyalty scheme – or risk losing out on premium kitchen gear worth up to £30. The supermarket has warned customers that they must redeem their More Card Stamps in-store by Sunday, June 22, or their stamps will go to waste. 2 The offer, available across Morrisons supermarkets in the UK, excludes online orders, Click & Collect, Morrisons Daily convenience stores, Amazon, petrol stations and Gibraltar branches. It's all part of a recent More Card promotion, launched earlier this year, which has seen customers bag free Pyrex products by collecting digital stamps with their weekly shop. The deal, which has proved hugely popular with loyal Morrisons shoppers, allowed customers to collect one stamp for every spend over £10. With enough stamps, customers could walk away with premium Pyrex items – including dishes, containers and a hand pump – completely free. Lilly Chattoe, Senior Loyalty Marketing Manager at Morrisons, said: 'Our More Card Stamps loyalty program has been incredibly popular, with fans of the Pyrex range being quick to collect their stamps in exchange for a product or two, or more. 'As we reach the final week of the offer, we're reminding customers that haven't yet redeemed their stamps to do so quickly before it runs out.' Items up for grabs include a 600ML round dish, 800ML rectangular dish, 1100ML round, 1500ML rectangular, 1600ML round and a huge 2600ML rectangular Pyrex dish. A branded hand pump is also part of the range. But anyone who hasn't used their stamps by the Sunday deadline will lose them for good – even if they've already done the shopping to earn them. This isn't the first time supermarket shoppers have been caught out by loyalty scheme cut-offs. Earlier this year, Tesco scrapped its popular Clubcard app, forcing millions to switch over to the new Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app by a set deadline. Many shoppers who didn't update in time lost access to their points and vouchers. Meanwhile, Sainsbury's replaced its well-known Nectar Double Up event – where customers could double the value of their points on selected products – with a range of smaller, more targeted offers, leaving regulars disappointed. And Boots customers were left fuming last summer when the high street chain cut its Advantage Card rewards rate from 4p to 3p per £1 spent – giving shoppers less bang for their buck. Now Morrisons fans are being urged not to make the same mistake. To take part in the promotion, customers must be a More Card member, either through the app or with a physical card. Stamps can be tracked through the app or printed on the bottom of receipts. 2
CNN
16-06-2025
- Business
- CNN
Get the most out of Prime Day with these Amazon Prime membership perks
Amazon Prime Day is just a few weeks away. While we're still waiting on the official date to go live, Amazon has already shared that its massive summer savings event will return this July. Ahead of time, I'm putting my years of experience to work to share some tips and tricks for taking advantage of your Prime membership. The subscriber-only sale means that you're going to need to have one of Amazon's paid subscriptions in order to save on the best deals. Even if that is the main draw to a Prime membership, there's more to the program than just cashing in on the savings. Amazon Prime is the company's loyalty membership. You'll have to pay a fee to participate, but being a Prime member includes quite a few perks that range from no-cost delivery and extra savings while shopping to accessing movies, music and more that I've dived into below. If you're not already an Amazon Prime member, there are quite a few different ways you can sign up. The best place to start is with redeeming the free 30-day trial that Amazon offers first-time subscribers. Though if you've already used that in the past, there are some other options to restart your perks. As the default option, Prime memberships start at $15 per month. You can drop the price slightly by paying for all 12 months at once with a $139 yearly fee. That drops each month down under $12 per month. Students with an active .edu email also have the ability to save with a 50% price cut that brings each month down to less than $8. There isn't a better time to lock in your membership, especially as the event draws near. We have everything you need to know about Prime Day all summed up, should you need a refresher on what's to come in July. Saving money with a Prime membership One of the most notable perks is using your Prime membership to score exclusive deals. Amazon likes to lock many of the best discounts it offers behind its membership program, especially on Prime Day. Sometimes it's getting an extra 20% off an already-discounted item via an on-page coupon that only appears for members, and other times it's being able to take advantage of a deal in the first place. Regardless, having a Prime membership means getting the best available prices. Free expedited shipping On top of just being able to save on everything under the sun, you'll also be able to get just about anything Amazon sells delivered at no extra cost. Two-day delivery is what Amazon is known for, but some shoppers will also be able to enjoy same-day shipping in select areas. It's not just items shipped by Amazon either. The retailer has partnered with Whole Foods and Grubhub to extend its no-cost shipping to other delivery services that hook you up with food and groceries. So, regardless of whether you're just restocking essentials, grabbing dinner or shopping for a last-minute gift, nearly everything you buy shows up at your front door in no time. Amazon also has some additional options, like public delivery lockers for picking up your packages from grocery stores and more. All the different delivery options give you a little extra flexibility when shopping Prime Day 2025 deals. Grocery benefits Speaking of grocery stores, Amazon Prime members also get some added savings on groceries — and not just ones you order online. Both Whole Foods and the online Amazon Fresh storefront have exclusive Prime member deals, like 10% off hundreds of groceries and offers on recurring essentials. Fuel savings A more recent addition to Amazon's membership benefits, Prime subscribers can save on trips to the pump by refueling their cars. Over 7,000 participating gas stations, including BP, Amoco and ampm, are offering 10¢ off per gallon when linking your Amazon account to the Earnify app. Through the end of the month, refueling on Fridays will earn you 20¢ in savings per gallon. Enjoy movies, TV shows and games Amazon Prime members get access to a wealth of digital media too. Movies and TV shows that are part of Prime Video are easy highlights to talk about first, but there's also digital content from Twitch, ebooks, audiobooks and tons of other ways to enjoy your favorite media. And even more Amazon Prime memberships come with tons of other perks. The retailer carries more than just home goods, tech and toys, and it allows you to save on prescriptions at 60,000 pharmacies, including Walgreens, CVS and Amazon's own in-house pharmacy. There's also cloud storage for photos — even at their original, full resolutions. Most likely, yes. Historically, Amazon has locked all its Prime Day deals behind its membership. There may be some offers that are open to everyone, but the vast majority of savings will require an Amazon Prime membership. A Prime membership comes in handy throughout the whole year, but it's particularly essential for Prime Day. My recommendation would be to try to sign up for the free trial as a starter, then evaluate if the perks are worth it following those first 30 days. If you've already redeemed the trial for your account, the $15 monthly cost is likely going to pay for itself if you plan on shopping during Prime Day. Regardless, it's a good idea to time the subscription so that it's live during the event. The deals editors at CNN Underscored look out for your wallet on the daily, scouring sales at the top of every morning. We tap a range of techniques and consider a variety of factors to determine whether a deal is worthy of coverage, such as price history checks, available coupon codes and competitor pricing. Our savvy-shopping assistant extends beyond just recommending deals; we also break down everything you need to know about saving money with the services you already use. Senior deals editor Rikka Altland has been covering deals for nearly a decade. More importantly, she has been on the front lines for every Prime Day since Amazon first introduced the summer sale. So, she knows how to take full advantage of her Prime membership from years of firsthand experience and shopping at the retailer.
