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By Betty Lin-Fisher
Beacon Journal business writer
POSTED: 09:06 a.m. EDT, Mar 18, 2009
Acme Fresh Markets and Circle K gas stations are partnering up with a new gasoline rewards program.
Today, the Akron-based grocery store chain will begin a trial run of its gas program at its Parma store.
''We're testing it to make sure that we've got it figured out,'' said Jim Trout, vice president of sales and merchandising.
Trout said he hopes to have the program rolled out in the rest of the stores by May.
Acme's program will be different than one used by competitor Giant Eagle, which gives customers reward discounts on Giant Eagle gas based on the total paid at the register.
Acme will be tying its fuel rewards directly to products within the store. Also, instead of earning a discount on future gas, Acme customers will earn money toward gas at any Circle K location. For now, Parma customers can only redeem free gas at Parma-area Circle K's.
Each week, Acme Fresh Market Fuel Rewards program will have 3,000 products throughout the store that will have fuel money linked to them. Many of the products will be private label brands, such as Acme brands, Food Club and Top Care. There will also be name brand products with fuel rewards, Trout said.
Discounts will range anywhere from 5 cents in fuel to $20 in fuel (on a large purchase, such as patio furniture), he said.
''You'll have to be a selective shopper,'' said Trout. ''You could walk out of the store with a free tank of gas if you're willing to make choices.''
The value on the new Fuel Rewards Card, which will be available for free at Acme stores, will never expire. Customers will use their Acme cards to shop and the Fuel Rewards Card will get the money loaded onto it electronically for use at Circle K stores. Rewards will not show up on the card until 48 hours after the shopping trip, Trout said.
When asked why Acme was testing the new program at its Parma store instead of one in Akron, Trout said ''it's probably the furthest store I have away from the other ones. If I roll this out in Ellet, the store next door will say 'Why don't I get it?' It was the furthest away and easiest way for me to isolate it a bit.''
Acme opened the Parma store on Pleasant Valley Road — its first in Cuyahoga County in a number of years — last May. Acme has 15 company stores and one franchise store in Summit, Portage and Cuyahoga counties.
Trout said because the program involves two companies — Acme and Circle K — he wants to make sure all of the kinks are worked out of the system before it's available everywhere.
Acme does have one fuel center at its Manchester Road location, but it is not Acme's intention to open more fuel centers, Trout said. The Manchester Road gas station has had a simple rewards program for customers — $1 off for $50 in purchases and $2 off for $100 in purchases. Trout said the location will convert to the new fuel program.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at
330-996-3724 or blinfisher@
thebeaconjournal.com.
Acme Fresh Markets and Circle K gas stations are partnering up with a new gasoline rewards program.
Today, the Akron-based grocery store chain will begin a trial run of its gas program at its Parma store.
''We're testing it to make sure that we've got it figured out,'' said Jim Trout, vice president of sales and merchandising.
Trout said he hopes to have the program rolled out in the rest of the stores by May.
Acme's program will be different than one used by competitor Giant Eagle, which gives customers reward discounts on Giant Eagle gas based on the total paid at the register.
Acme will be tying its fuel rewards directly to products within the store. Also, instead of earning a discount on future gas, Acme customers will earn money toward gas at any Circle K location. For now, Parma customers can only redeem free gas at Parma-area Circle K's.
Each week, Acme Fresh Market Fuel Rewards program will have 3,000 products throughout the store that will have fuel money linked to them. Many of the products will be private label brands, such as Acme brands, Food Club and Top Care. There will also be name brand products with fuel rewards, Trout said.
Discounts will range anywhere from 5 cents in fuel to $20 in fuel (on a large purchase, such as patio furniture), he said.
''You'll have to be a selective shopper,'' said Trout. ''You could walk out of the store with a free tank of gas if you're willing to make choices.''
The value on the new Fuel Rewards Card, which will be available for free at Acme stores, will never expire. Customers will use their Acme cards to shop and the Fuel Rewards Card will get the money loaded onto it electronically for use at Circle K stores. Rewards will not show up on the card until 48 hours after the shopping trip, Trout said.
When asked why Acme was testing the new program at its Parma store instead of one in Akron, Trout said ''it's probably the furthest store I have away from the other ones. If I roll this out in Ellet, the store next door will say 'Why don't I get it?' It was the furthest away and easiest way for me to isolate it a bit.''
Acme opened the Parma store on Pleasant Valley Road — its first in Cuyahoga County in a number of years — last May. Acme has 15 company stores and one franchise store in Summit, Portage and Cuyahoga counties.
Trout said because the program involves two companies — Acme and Circle K — he wants to make sure all of the kinks are worked out of the system before it's available everywhere.
Acme does have one fuel center at its Manchester Road location, but it is not Acme's intention to open more fuel centers, Trout said. The Manchester Road gas station has had a simple rewards program for customers — $1 off for $50 in purchases and $2 off for $100 in purchases. Trout said the location will convert to the new fuel program.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at
330-996-3724 or blinfisher@
thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Akron, OH
Posted 09:11 AM, 03/18/2009
Wonderful! As much as my husband and I are at Acme, we will be able to get a free tank of gas in no time!
Akron, OH
Posted 09:13 AM, 03/18/2009
Can't wait. I save more money with ACME card specials that I ever did with the Giant Eagle Card and double coupons. Just goes to show you who charges more for their groceries.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:45 AM, 03/18/2009
Hope about they use some of this additional revenue to finally put the store in Highland Square as promised?!?
Uniontown, OH
Posted 10:26 AM, 03/18/2009
Thank God! I've been wondering when they were going to do this? I hope Giant Eagle will finally get off their high horse and lower some of their prices.
Posted 10:27 AM, 03/18/2009
i shop at acme all the time. this is great news!
Posted 10:50 AM, 03/18/2009
Highland Square forget it!!!
There are too many needles in the allies unless The Berrodin' O.D.ed !!!!
Cleveland/Akron Area, OH
Posted 10:55 AM, 03/18/2009
This is awesome, thank you Jim Trout! I think linking rewards to private label and select products is an exceptional idea. I also like the fact that there is not an expiration on rewards and there are more Circle K's than Get Go's.
My Heart Is In K-Town, .
Posted 10:56 AM, 03/18/2009
You folks probably already knew this but you can already buy a Marc's Card for fuel at any Speedway (or is it Speedy?) and its for 10 cents off a gallon...no other purchases are necessary, all the time, any time. The card is pre-pay (at Marc's) and acts like a gift card/credit card that you slide into the slot at the pump.
Posted 11:16 AM, 03/18/2009
Great Idea. Glad this is going to happen. I shop at ACME weekly. Thanks for some good new for a chagne.
Barberton, OH
Posted 12:13 PM, 03/18/2009
I love this idea. I do all my shopping at Acme. Giant Eagle's prices are too high.
Akron, Oh
Posted 01:23 PM, 03/18/2009
Isn't circle K owned by Chavez and Venezuela?
akron, oh
Posted 02:34 PM, 03/18/2009
I agree that this is long overdue! Giant Eagle is a rip-off both on groceries and their gas (it's usually higher than Speedway or Circle K, so you don't save as much as they want you to believe). I like Acme, and it's locally owned. Support your home-town business!
Posted 03:06 PM, 03/18/2009
"Isn't circle K owned by Chavez and Venezuela?"
That's Citgo, not Circle K.
akron, oh
Posted 03:41 PM, 03/18/2009
I ve been waiting for acme to reward its customers for $ spent, I perfer acme over giant eagle, I agree G.E has higher prices. way to go acme!
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 04:03 PM, 03/18/2009
from what i have learned giant eagles is still better
Akron, OH
Posted 04:08 PM, 03/18/2009
I'm patiently saving up my speedy rewards points till summer when gas is higher. I hope the new acme program comes here soon. I do quite a bit of shopping at acme.
Akron, OH
Posted 05:19 PM, 03/18/2009
It's worth finding out whether these Circle K stores are owned by Hugo Chavez' Citgo, which we stopped patronizing before these local Citgo signs changed to Circle K.
Also, there was a story in ABJ recently about them selling something illicit to high-school kids (Copley?).
Posted 05:24 PM, 03/18/2009
Sounds like they made several differences in their program just to be different than Giant Eagle. Why only on selected products? So I have to decide to buy their brand instead of what I want to safe money on gas. And the rewards don't hit until 48 hours later?
What about buying gift cards and getting a bonus like I do at Giant Eagle. I needed an item last weekend, checked Sears Hardware and Lowes in Montrose. Found an item that was what I wanted at Sears, stopped in at GE first for a gift card and saved some money on my gas. Doesn't sound like ACME will be doing that.
I've never shopped much at ACME as there were always other grocery stores closer. I'm not sure if there prices are much different, but it doesn't sound like the gas rewards program is as good as GE.
About the only thing I go to ACME for is their nice beer selection and hard liqour (the closest place that sells it).
akron, oh
Posted 06:03 PM, 03/18/2009
They mark it up to mark it down, People get a grip, you are going to pay full price for food and gas. Your daddy probably told you but you were not listening--there is no free lunch!
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 06:32 PM, 03/18/2009
No Acme, No Giant Eagle. I buy 80% of my groceries at Wal Mart these days where prices are cheaper every day by lots. Only buy the specials at A & GE that are advertised.
Ever notice the GE in Tallmadge is always $.05 higher for their regular gas price then the Speedway or Circle K down the street. So much for saving $.10 on a gallon of gas when you buy at GE. The A program even looks to be worse.
Buy at Wal Mart and you can use the money saved to fill your tank from a typical families $200 weekly grocery buy.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:06 PM, 03/18/2009
I love walmart for groceries. A $6 box of cereal at acme costs like $2.50 walmart
Copley, OH
Posted 09:10 PM, 03/18/2009
Don't know about the this Acme deal, but it sounds worth checking out. Agree with others that GE prices are way high. Circle K is not owned by H. Chavez and has no connection to Citgo. I think they are owned by a canadian outfit, but run by local folks.
