Shoppers at Kroger no longer require the app to redeem digital coupons.
In a bid to bridge the digital divide for shoppers, especially the elderly and low-income without digital access, grocery chains Kroger and Stop & Shop have introduced printed coupon flyers that mirror their weekly digital deals.
Kroger, one of the top food and consumables retailers in North America, has placed these flyers at store entrances. Customers with loyalty cards can scan the barcodes on these flyers at checkout, automatically applying all digital coupons. This initiative ensures that shoppers without smartphones can access the same discounts as digital users [1][3].
Similarly, Stop & Shop, a Northeastern supermarket chain, has rolled out an in-store kiosk called Savings Station. This allows customers to activate all weekly circular digital coupons and personalized offers without the need for a smartphone, internet access, or a computer [5].
The move comes in response to concerns raised by consumer advocacy groups and related legislative pressures. For instance, the Grocery Pricing Transparency Ordinance, a first-in-the-nation policy banning digital-only coupons, was recently passed by San Diego's council [7].
While these in-store efforts aim to address digital discrimination in grocery, concerns about price transparency and differential pricing through digital loyalty programs still persist. Prices on shelves may be removed or altered dynamically, potentially disadvantaging non-loyalty or less tech-savvy customers [2].
Despite these challenges, both Kroger and Stop & Shop are part of a broader push to ensure that all shoppers, regardless of their digital access, can enjoy the benefits of digital deals. These initiatives are a step towards making grocery shopping more inclusive and equitable for all.
Sources:
- Kroger Introduces Weekly Digital Deals Flyers
- Digital Loyalty Programs and Price Transparency
- Kroger Responds to Concerns about Digital Discrimination
- Upside's Dr. Thomas Weinandy on Winning Uncommitted Shoppers
- Stop & Shop Introduces Savings Station to Activate Digital Coupons
- Ahold Delhaize Partners with Inmar Intelligence to Boost Personalization and Value
- San Diego Passes Ordinance Requiring In-Store Alternatives to Digital Coupons
Consumer behavior in the digital age is significantly influenced by technology, with initiatives like Kroger's printed coupon flyers and Stop & Shop's Savings Station aiming to ensure that technology does not create barriers for shoppers without digital access. These in-store solutions are part of a broader push to promote digital inclusivity in grocery shopping.
