Kroger Pumps Up Gas Discounts in Grocery War
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Kroger grocery stores, based here, revved up its gas discount program in central Ohio as an attempt to gain an advantage over the Giant Eagle chain of grocery stores, The Associated Press reported.
Last weekend, Kroger stores in central Ohio offered $5 of free gasoline when customers spent $60 in its stores. In addition, customers who spent $100 in their grocery stores earned $10 in free gas, and a $160 purchase was worth $15 in free gas, the report stated.
The company is looking to gain a "competitive advantage" in market share over Giant Eagle, a Kroger spokesman told the AP. Kroger also offers a discount program that earns customers up to 50 cents off per gallon based on store purchases.
The promotion was only offered in central Ohio, the same region where the two grocery chains have been waging a price war, the report stated. In May, Giant Eagle doubled its fuelperks! gas discount program, and currently offers $0.20 off per gallon at its GetGo gas stations for every $50 spent in its stores, the report stated.
"Over the last 12 months, Columbus-area Giant Eagle customers have realized more than $18 million in fuel savings via the Fuel Perks program," spokesman Dan Donovan told the Dispatch via e-mail. He added that the company has no confirmed end date for the doubled fuelperks! program.
Customers will have until Oct. 14 to redeem the free gas they earned over the weekend, a Columbus Dispatch report stated. The discount is earned when customers use their loyalty cards at Kroger's gas pumps, Kroger spokesman Dale Hollandsworth told the Dispatch.
Last weekend, Kroger stores in central Ohio offered $5 of free gasoline when customers spent $60 in its stores. In addition, customers who spent $100 in their grocery stores earned $10 in free gas, and a $160 purchase was worth $15 in free gas, the report stated.
The company is looking to gain a "competitive advantage" in market share over Giant Eagle, a Kroger spokesman told the AP. Kroger also offers a discount program that earns customers up to 50 cents off per gallon based on store purchases.
The promotion was only offered in central Ohio, the same region where the two grocery chains have been waging a price war, the report stated. In May, Giant Eagle doubled its fuelperks! gas discount program, and currently offers $0.20 off per gallon at its GetGo gas stations for every $50 spent in its stores, the report stated.
"Over the last 12 months, Columbus-area Giant Eagle customers have realized more than $18 million in fuel savings via the Fuel Perks program," spokesman Dan Donovan told the Dispatch via e-mail. He added that the company has no confirmed end date for the doubled fuelperks! program.
Customers will have until Oct. 14 to redeem the free gas they earned over the weekend, a Columbus Dispatch report stated. The discount is earned when customers use their loyalty cards at Kroger's gas pumps, Kroger spokesman Dale Hollandsworth told the Dispatch.