Best grocery store loyalty programs in the U.S.

Joining your grocery store’s loyalty program is one of the easiest ways to save on groceries. Most programs are free to join and can offer benefits such as member prices, digital coupons and grocery rewards.

You can usually stack savings from grocery store loyalty programs with the rewards you earn by paying with a credit card that offers bonus points or cash back at grocery stores. But grocery loyalty programs vary significantly: Some provide a predictable return on qualifying spending, while others focus on fuel savings or personalized deals. Here’s what you need to know about some of the best U.S. grocery store loyalty programs.

Comparison of the best grocery store loyalty programs

Before we dive into each program, here’s a quick comparison of the best grocery store loyalty programs:

In this guide, I’m covering a selection of the most useful free loyalty programs offered by national and major regional grocery chains. I’m excluding popular grocery brands with no loyalty program, such as Trader Joe’s and Aldi. And I’m not discussing warehouse clubs such as Sam’s Club or Costco or major retail brands that also sell groceries, such as Amazon, Target and Walmart.

Albertsons for U

The Albertsons for U loyalty program is for Albertsons Companies brands, including Albertsons, Safeway and Vons. You can earn 1 point per dollar spent on eligible, qualifying grocery and pharmacy purchases, and 2 points per dollar spent to purchase eligible gift cards.

You can redeem points for grocery items or discounts on gas at participating fuel stations. Specifically, you can redeem for free grocery items or tiered basket discounts, such as 300 points for $4 off, 1,000 points for $15 off or 1,200 points for $20 off. Or, you can redeem 100 points for 10 cents off per gallon on up to 25 gallons at participating fuel stations. The maximum discount varies by station and market; members can save up to $1 per gallon at participating company-owned stations, while partner stations may impose a lower maximum.

Eligible Albertsons for U members can also enjoy a birthday treat offer (up to $10 value) during their birthday month and redeem an offer for a free item (up to $10 value) once per month.

Unfortunately, points expire at the end of the month after the one in which they’re earned. So, if you earn 100 points in January, those 100 points will expire at the end of February. You can avoid points expiration and get other perks with the Albertsons for U+ paid subscription.

Club Publix

Club Publix doesn’t offer any points or other redeemable rewards. However, if Publix is your preferred grocery chain, you may want to join Club Publix to enjoy digital coupons, deals picked for you based on your purchase history, an annual birthday treat and more.

Food Lion MVP

To earn rewards with Food Lion MVP, log in to your digital MVP account at the start of each month and activate personalized Shop & Earn offers. Then, as you shop at Food Lion and make purchases toward your offers, you’ll earn rewards.

These rewards expire at the end of the month after you earn them. Food Lion will automatically redeem your rewards on your next shopping trip unless you opt to donate your rewards to charity.

Giant Eagle myPerks

You can earn with Giant Eagle myPerks as follows:

• 1 Perk per dollar spent on grocery and gift card purchases, plus out-of-pocket prescription costs
• 2 Perks per gallon of gas at GetGo
• 10 Perks per qualifying prescription

You can choose to redeem rewards at grocery or gas station checkout. You can redeem 50 Perks for $1 off your grocery or gas total, 100 Perks for 10 cents off per gallon of gas on a fill-up of up to 30 gallons at GetGo (and at Circle K locations in Ohio) or 150 Perks for 2% off your grocery total.

Members generally have up to 12 months to use earned Perks; the exact expiration date appears in your account.

It’s possible to earn Giant Eagle myPerks Pro status if you earn 2,500 perks through purchases or make 25 qualifying trips within a January to June or July to December earning period. Once you earn Pro status, you’ll keep it through the end of the next earning period. Pro members earn Perks at higher rates than standard members.

Hy-Vee Perks

The Hy-Vee Perks program offers member-only prices, digital coupons, personalized deals and fuel rewards. Members can earn fuel discounts when buying eligible products and utilizing limited-time promotions at participating Hy-Vee, Hy-Vee Drugstore, Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh and Dollar Fresh Market locations.

Once you earn a fuel discount, it expires 30 days after your purchase. You can only reduce your per-gallon fuel cost to a specific amount (which varies by location), and each discount is valid for one fuel purchase of up to 20 gallons. You can redeem fuel discounts at Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh, Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh Express, Hy-Vee Gas and Casey’s locations, as well as participating Shell, Sinclair and Pump & Pantry stations.

Hy-Vee currently offers free delivery on qualifying orders of at least $75 to regular Perks members. You can also pay for a Hy-Vee Perks Plus membership, which offers free delivery and faster pickup on qualifying orders at a lower minimum, plus spend-based fuel rewards and other offers.

Kroger Points

You can earn Kroger points as follows:

• 1 point per dollar spent on groceries and general merchandise
• 2 points per dollar spent on gift cards
• 25 points per qualifying non-federally funded prescription, 75 points per qualifying 90-day prescription and 1 point per dollar in qualifying out-of-pocket costs on federally funded prescriptions

You can redeem Kroger points for grocery discounts or fuel discounts. Specifically, you can redeem 100 points for a $1 off your grocery bill, generally up to 1,000 points or $10 off per day for standard members. Alternatively, you can redeem 100 points for 10 cents off per gallon of gas, up to 1,000 points and 35 gallons per fill-up. Kroger Rewards points usually expire at the end of the month after you earn them.

You can also buy a Kroger Boost membership, which offers 2 points per dollar on qualifying purchases and free same-day or next-day delivery on qualifying orders.

Lidl Plus

The Lidl Plus program offers straightforward earning of 1 point per dollar spent on qualifying items. You can earn points on up to five purchases per day.

You can redeem Lidl Plus points Marketplace, you’ll see options for redeeming points, which usually include products and coupons. Once you redeem points for a product or coupon, you can then apply it by scanning your Lidl Plus card at checkout

Points generally become available two days after a qualifying purchase. Once you exchange points for a reward coupon, activate it before scanning your Lidl Plus card at checkout. Unused points expire 24 months after becoming available.

Meijer mPerks

The Meijer mPerks program lets you earn 10 points per dollar spent on qualifying purchases, plus bonus points on qualifying prescriptions.

You can redeem points through the rewards section of the Meijer mPerks app or website for options such as grocery discounts, free items, delivery discounts or fuel discounts. Meijer mPerks points expire 90 days after they’re earned, and you have 45 days to use a reward after selecting it.

My Hannaford Rewards

My Hannaford Rewards is a straightforward program that offers 2% back on eligible store-brand items. You’ll collect these cash-back rewards each quarter and then can activate your rewards from the previous quarter each January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.

Once you activate your rewards, they’ll automatically be applied next time you scan your barcode or enter your phone number at checkout. Your rewards will expire if you don’t activate and use them within 90 days of their availability.

Save Mart Rewards

Save Mart Rewards lets you earn 1 point per dollar spent on qualifying items.

You can redeem points on the Save Mart Rewards website or in the app for grocery rewards, up to $20 off per transaction. You can also redeem points for gas discounts at participating Shell stations at a rate of 100 points for 10 cents off per gallon (up to 20 gallons per fill-up).

Save Mart Rewards points expire on the last day of the third calendar month following the month in which you earned them. However, once you select a grocery reward, you have 30 days to use it.

Schnucks Rewards

The Schnucks Rewards program lets you earn 10 points per dollar spent. Once you’ve accumulated 500 points, you can get $1 in store rewards to use on a shopping trip. Your points won’t expire as long as you earn or redeem points or rewards at least once every 12 months.

You can use the Schnucks Rewards app to redeem points, activate Boosts, check for personal Double Points Day coupons and see your personalized savings opportunities. Schnucks Rewards members can also pay $24.99 per year for a Schnucks Wine Club membership (not available in Indiana), which provides 15% off wine bottles at Schnucks stores.

ShopRite Price Plus Club

The ShopRite Price Plus Club doesn’t have a traditional rewards system. Instead, it offers members instant in-store discounts on weekly sale items and targeted promotional rewards. For example, ShopRite periodically runs targeted promotions that award a grocery or gas gift card after a member meets specified spending requirements.

Interestingly, ShopRite will return your keys to you if you lose them with your Price Plus Club card attached and someone drops them in the mail.

Sprouts Rewards

The Sprouts Rewards program gives members 5 points per dollar spent on eligible items, and members can earn additional points during member-only events. Once you accumulate 1,000 points, you can convert them into a $2 reward for a future shopping trip. Converted rewards expire after 60 days, and points expire on the first day of the seventh month after the month in which they were earned.

Wegmans Shoppers Club

The Wegmans Shoppers Club doesn’t let you earn cash-back or points. Instead, it offers personalized digital coupons based on your shopping habits, gives you access to sale prices and lets you order pharmacy refills and check your prescription status

Winn-Dixie Rewards

Winn-Dixie Rewards gives you 1 point per $2 spent. You can redeem 100 points for $1 in grocery savings. Plus, percent-back offers let members earn more points on select items once they are activated. Winn-Dixie Rewards members also get access to member-only weekly offers, buy-one-get-one sales and personalized offers.

Points expire on the last day of the month that is six months after the month in which they were earned.

Bottom line

There isn’t one grocery loyalty program that is best for everyone. Instead, the most useful program for you will often be the one offered by the chain where you shop most. Even programs without points, such as Club Publix and Wegmans Shoppers Club, can provide personalized coupons and useful member benefits, while other programs offer grocery rewards or meaningful savings at the gas pump.

Just don’t assume every reward will apply automatically. Some programs require you to activate offers or convert points before checkout, and many have relatively short expiration windows. So, be sure to check your account before you shop and use your rewards before they expire.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Source: thepointsguy.com