Giant Eagle is ending foodperks! and adding extra incentive to use its fuelperks! program, according a press release from the Pennsylvannia-based company.
The last day to earn foodperks! will be Feb. 13 and discounts must be redeemed by May 31.
According to a letter obtained by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the CEO said customers thought the foodperks! program was "a little too complex."
In an effort to inform in advance the customers who were receiving the highest level of savings with foodperks!, Giant Eagle began to issue letters to those customers along with added value offers in appreciation of their loyalty. These letters began to arrive late last week, and will continue to be delivered to customer mailboxes through this week.
In the letters, the company shared feedback it had received that not all customers liked the structure of the foodperks! promotion, as it requires additional shopping planning.
As a result, only a small percentage of customers received significant savings. Senior Director of Corporate Communications Rob Borella said, "In fact, approximately 92 percent of Giant Eagle Advantage Card customers saved less than $40 each from foodperks! in the preceding 12 months."
The program gave customers a 1-percent discount on groceries for every 10 gallons of gas purchased at GetGo gas stations. foodperks! began in 2009.
In its place, Giant Eagle is rolling out a new 3-cent program that gives customers extra incentive to choose GetGo over other gas stations. The program started Feb. 4.
"The new GetGo 3-cent program is simple," Borella said. "Every time a customer scans his or her Giant Eagle Advantage Card while fueling at GetGo and isn’t redeeming fuelperks!, he or she will receive 3-cents off per gallon."
Borella added, "Giant Eagle had a thorough and thoughtful plan to communicate the changes this week, however the targeted mailers’ premature delivery preempted that plan. Giant Eagle truly apologizes to any letter recipients who were offended and/or misinterpreted its language."
Do you use your foodperks! each month? Or weekly? Will you miss the discount? Tell us in the comments!
Denise Rochelle