The Kroger Company Introduces Gas Discount Partnership with Shell

As the economic lull continues and gas prices remain consistently high, cost-conscious consumers will be pleased to hear that The Kroger Company has partnered with Shell Oil to help mutual customers save money on gas. Like many other grocers and retailers, in the past, Kroger has offered its customers discounts at Kroger-operated gas stations based on how much they spend in their stores. However, Kroger and Shell's new program allows Kroger customers to earn points at the store towards a discount eventually redeemable at Shell stations.

Aside from actual Kroger stores, the company also owns the following participating stores: Fry's, Ralphs, Fred Myers, Scott's, Hilander, QFC and a few other large chains. Customers who frequent one or more of those chains and have the associated loyalty card are eligible for the program. By scanning your card or entering your telephone number during your transaction, the amount you spend is logged into the system. For every $100 of participating items, you earn a 10-cents a gallon discount on one fill-up. While that discount is now redeemable at Shell stations, customers can also choose to redeem them at the Kroger stations they have used in the past. As soon as you spend a total of $100 on participating items (alcohol, tobacco and lottery tickets are among the excluded products), you are eligible to use the discount. However, as your total number of dollars spent increases over the course of a month, you can earn additional discounts for every $100 you spend. So, at $200, you would be able to go to Shell on two different occasions and receive the 10 cents per gallon discount. Additionally, you get double points on purchases of qualified gift cards, and an automatic 50 points for each prescription filled at the in-store pharmacy. Your discounts roll over into the following month, but they must be used by the end of that month. To use the discount at the Shell station, either insert your loyalty card into the card reader, or enter the phone number associated with your loyalty card into the pin pad. If you have accumulated enough spending to earn the discount, the pump will automatically reduce the price by 10 cents and notify you of your savings (that means if you do not want to use your discount on a given fill-up make sure not to enter any Kroger loyalty card information).

You can visit your local Kroger Company store's website for more information including a complete list of participating Kroger family stores at www.kroger.com. Shell's website, www.shell.us has more information about the program, as well as a list of participating stations. As a frequent customer of both a Kroger family store and a Shell gas station, the program represents a chance for me to save money by just doing what I have already been doing. Hopefully it is a chance for you to save money, too!