AKRON, Ohio -- Acme Fresh Markets and Circle K gas stations are partnering up with a new gasoline rewards program, according to a report by The Beacon Journal. The Akron, Ohio-based grocery store chain will begin a trial run of its gasoline program at its Parma, Ohio, store.
"We're testing it to make sure that we've got it figured out," Jim Trout, vice president of sales and merchandising for the grocery chain, told the newspaper. He said he hopes to have the program rolled out in the rest of the stores by May.
Acme's program will be different than one used [image-nocss] by competitor Giant Eagle, which gives customers reward discounts on Giant Eagle gasoline based on the total paid at the register, the report said. Acme will be tying its fuel rewards directly to products within the store. Also, instead of earning a discount on future gasoline, Acme customers will earn money toward gasoline at any Circle K location.
Each week, Acme Fresh Market Fuel Rewards program will have 3,000 products throughout the store that will have fuel money linked to them. Many of the products will be private-label brands, such as Acme brands, Food Club and Top Care. There will also be name-brand products with fuel rewards, Trout said.
Discounts will range anywhere from five cents in fuel to $20 in fuel (on a large purchase, such as patio furniture), he added. "You'll have to be a selective shopper. You could walk out of the store with a free tank of gas if you're willing to make choices."
The value on the new Fuel Rewards Card, which will be available for free at Acme stores, will never expire. Customers will use their Acme cards to shop and the Fuel Rewards Card will get the money loaded onto it electronically for use at Circle K stores. Rewards will not show up on the card until 48 hours after the shopping trip, Trout said.
When asked why Acme was testing the new program at its Parma store instead of one in Akron, Trout said "it's probably the furthest store I have away from the other ones. If I roll this out in Ellet, the store next door will say 'Why don't I get it?' It was the furthest away and easiest way for me to isolate it a bit."
Acme opened the Parma store, its first in Cuyahoga County in a number of years, last May, said the report. Acme has 15 company stores and one franchise store in Summit, Portage and Cuyahoga counties.
Trout said because the program involves two companies, Acme and Circle K, he wants to make sure all of the kinks are worked out of the system before it's available everywhere.
Acme does have one fuel center at one location, but it is not Acme's intention to open more fuel centers, Trout said. The station has had a simple rewards program for customers-$1 off for $50 in purchases and $2 off for $100 in purchases. Trout told the paper that the location will convert to the new fuel program.
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