The latest grocer to launch an economic stimulus check program at its stores is Ahold USA, which through its Stop & Shop Supermarket Co./Giant Food, LLC division launched a program it hopes will prompt shoppers to drop at least $200 of their rebate in a single transaction in order to earn a 10 percent discount.

Customers who use their BonusCards and spend $200 or more in a single transaction will receive a Checkout Coupon for 10 percent off their next order, the grocer said.

The program also leverages Stop & Shop/Giant's ongoing "Low Prices Every Day" campaign, which has slashed prices on thousands of items throughout the store, most recently HBC products.

"We know our customers have difficult choices to make during these tough economic times," noted Stop & Stop/Giant Food president and c.e.o. Jose Alvarez. "Giant can help our customers support their families by offering this discount program, as well as our continuing efforts to offer low prices every day. When families take advantage of our tax rebate discount program, coupled with our new lower prices, they can count on receiving significant savings at the cash register."

"Our low prices cut across a variety of mealtime staples, and we are continuing to lower prices aisle by aisle," added Stop & Shop/Giant Food consumer advisor Andrea Astrachan. "No matter what you typically prepare, no matter the family menu, customers will now be able to get more for less. Customers who need to stock up can take advantage of this special program by spending $200 in one transaction; they will receive a 10 percent discount on their next purchase."

According to analysts, consumers will spend $43 billion, or 40 percent, of the new economic stimulus package, on a wide variety of products including food. The rest of the money will go toward savings, paying down debt, or dealing with other bills.

Stop & Shop/Giant Food is limiting one 10 percent-off coupon distributed per family per week. The offer doesn't include alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, gift cards, lottery tickets, gasoline, pharmacy items, postage stamps, prepaid telephone calling cards, Western Union, money orders, mass transit Metro Passes, and any other purchases that are prohibited by law. Additionally, the 10 percent coupons will have a 30-day expiration date from the time of issuance.

Stop & Shop, based in Quincy, Mass., operates 378 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey. Giant Food, based in Landover, Md., operates 184 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, and employs about 21,000 associates.