Linkable Networks Taps Former Kroger Exec to Enhance Services
Linkable Networks, the card-linked offers-based shopper marketing and loyalty platform, has reached an agreement with retired Kroger executive Evan Anthony and his marketing and consultancy firm Masterpiece USA to enhance its shopper marketing service within the grocery and retail industries.
“The growth of technology in the grocery industry has become stagnant – shoppers are still forced to print, clip and present offers the way they have for decades,” said Tom Burgess, CEO of Linkable Networks. “We’ve joined forces with Evan and the rest of the Masterpiece team to further our current footprint in the shopper marketing and loyalty industry. The Linkable Network Platform (LNP) simplifies the way consumers redeem coupons by linking the value directly to their credit or debit card rather than enduring the hassle of paper coupons.”
Anthony, partner and CMO at Masterpiece USA and retired VP of corporate marketing, advertising loyalty and consumer research at The Kroger Co., is a seasoned veteran of the grocery/drug industry with over 38 years of experience – 31 of which were with Kroger. While there, he helped pioneer a number of growth areas, including Fuel Rewards, Gift Card Mall, corporate sampling and demo strategy, and the Kroger customer and store segmentation strategy with dunnhumbyUSA.
He also oversaw the start of Kroger Financial Services, Corp., the ad/sales planning process, transitioning of marketing services in-house, weekly ad-planning and production, media buying, production and creative, as well as promotional supplier agreements.
Boston-based Linkable Networks is currently deploying its solution with Lund Food Holdings, an Edina, Minn.-based independent that operates 11 Lunds and 11 Byerly's stores in the Twin Cities area, which has expanded the program chain-wide.
Linkables
The company’s card linked offers, also known as “Linkables,” enable offers in all media types – TV, radio, print, banner, text, video or mobile. When consumers see a Linkable offer, they link it to their existing credit or debit card and use that card to make a redemptive purchase at the participating store or website.
“We’re excited to work with Linkable Networks, we think they have a great platform that provides tremendous value to grocers and CPG’s,” said Anthony. “Having worked in the grocery industry for a long time, it’s exciting to see that coupons and loyalty programs are finally stepping into the digital age and we are happy to be working with a company that is paving the way.”