Kroger, Shell Expand Gas Rewards Program

The Kroger Co. and Shell are expanding their rewards program in Houston; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; Phoenix; Boise; and some other smaller markets beginning next Monday. The program, which began in February, lets customers use points earned on their Kroger Plus card or other Kroger-affiliated cards for discounts on gasoline at participating Shell stations.

Almost 4,000 Shell stations across the United States already use the rewards program that was originally launched in February 2010. The Kroger fuel rewards program with Shell is rapidly garnering customer attention and adoption in the 49 markets where the program has been successfully rolled out, including Cincinnati; Dallas; Detroit; Indianapolis; Jackson, Miss.; Little Rock, Ark.; Louisville, Ky.; Nashville, Tenn.; Raleigh, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; and San Diego.

"Kroger's loyalty card program is unmatched in the industry, providing customers the best possible shopping experience," said Jeff Fike, director of customer relationship management & development at Cincinnati-based Kroger. "Teaming up with Shell allows us to provide even more savings and rewards to our customers, which we know is important, with the economic challenges our customers face."

"Our participation in this program is helping our customers fill their gas tanks for less," added Dan Little, North America fuels marketing manager for Shell Oil Products U.S. "This program stretches customer's grocery dollars by allowing them to redeem reward points for meaningful savings."

The fuel rewards program provides Kroger banner shoppers the opportunity to save on fuels at participating Shell stations, including Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines, when using their Kroger family of stores loyalty cards at the supermarket register. Customers in the participating markets can save a minimum of 10 cents per gallon for every 100 Fuel Points earned at Kroger stores when they use their loyalty cards. Customers are able to redeem their Fuel Points exclusively at participating Shell stations and Kroger Fuel Centers, up to 35 gallons per fuel purchase.

Customers earn one Fuel Point for every dollar spent on most items at participating Kroger family of stores when they use their Kroger Plus Card or other Kroger family of stores loyalty card. Fuel Points will be automatically added to Kroger Plus Card or other Kroger family of stores loyalty card accounts and will be reflected on customers' grocery receipt after every purchase. Fuel Points must be used during the month they are earned or by the end of the following calendar month.

Customers may redeem their Fuel Points at Kroger Fuel Centers or participating Shell stations by using their Kroger Plus Cards or other Kroger banner cards at the pump, manually entering their card numbers or entering their alternate IDs, which will initiate the fuel savings.