Kroger faces an organizational battle over its proposed merger with Albertsons. (ACI) – Get a free report. The deal will create a grocery chain with more than 5,000 locations spanning 48 states.
The combined company will include more than 52 factories, nearly 4,000 pharmacies, and more than 2,000 fuel stations. The merger would create a market share of about 18% for the new Kroger company (K) – Get a free report and Kian Albertson.
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This proposed major merger has also attracted a lot of attention from federal regulators. They claim that the combined chain will have a significant advantage over other regional grocery chains (although you might argue that both Wal-Mart and (wmt) – Get a free report And the goal (TGT) – Get a free reportamong other things, already enjoy these advantages).
However, when Uncle Sam is watching you, it seems like a good time to stay under the radar. Kroger has chosen not to, and is ending one of its long-running programs that has been a staple of how people shop for decades.
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Kroger is making a major coupon change
Kroger recently shared that it will stop distributing its weekly print ads. These entries are usually found in newspapers, and with fewer consumers newspapers being delivered, in an effort to move into a more digital age of advertising, Kroger is ending its weekly ads that are sent to customers’ homes.
Those circulars, which included coupons on a myriad of items, would largely but not entirely go out of print. Instead, deals will be offered in a digital format.
Customers will still have access to the great deals that may come in the Kroger weekly newsletter, but now they will be in a digital weekly ad that can be viewed and accessed via smartphone. Kroger has considered that some customers may still prefer weekly print advertising and is willing to continue sending it to customers if they contact their local Kroger and request it be sent.
In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, Kroger is a proponent of creating a zero-waste society, and ending weekly print advertising would greatly reduce the waste the company produces. Weekly ads will still be available in-store, but the company should have cost savings by reducing printing, development and distribution including labor and fuel costs for sending out the circular.
Kroger shoppers have options
Even if customers don’t have a digital account or smartphone to be able to create a Kroger account, the grocer wants to make sure anyone who wants the discounted prices can access it. They may have to wait a little longer to get the special rates. Customers who do not have access to digital coupons can still get the discounts if they visit the customer service desk.
A visit to the customer service desk might add a few minutes to a customer’s shopping time, and others might find having to wait in another line to check in frustrating. However, Kroger wants to make sure these customers can still be accommodated as not everyone has access or the ability to create an account online. These customers can still access Kroger Fuel Rewards.
However, Kroger has tried to embrace the new technology without alienating customers who don’t use it. The company said that customers don’t need to own a smartphone to take advantage of discounts online, but can access them by going to Kroger.com, according to the company.Fox 59 in Indianapolis.
However, this does not fix the situation for all clients. Some tech shoppers struggle, like Pat O’Brien, who’s worried about Kroger ending their weekly print ads.
“They make it very difficult,” O’Brien said. “I mean seriously,” O’Brien said.WCPO 9 Cincinnati.
However, Kroger is working on a way to help all of its customers save money while shopping online and in-store regardless of how tech-savvy customers are.
