By Andy Young
Embattled supermarket giant Woolworths has confirmed that BWS will be part of its new loyalty program, giving consumers the opportunity to earn money off their liquor purchases.
The revitalised 'Woolworths Rewards' program started on Wednesday and enables members to earn money off their shopping.
Customers will earn 'Woolworths Dollars' in participating Woolworths Supermarkets and BWS stores when they buy any of a large range of items marked with an orange ticket across virtually every product category and encompassing a wide range of brands.
When customers buy those items, Woolworths Dollars will be added to their Woolworths Rewards card at the checkout. Upon their Woolworths Dollars balance reaching $10, that amount will be taken off their next shopping bill.
Woolworths Food Group Managing Director, Brad Banducci, said: “Woolworths Rewards is totally re-inventing our loyalty program, putting our customers’ needs first.
“Woolworths Rewards gives customers money off their shopping, fast. The beauty of the program is customers just shop as normal and the rewards look after themselves. It’s 100 per cent relevant to 100 per cent of our shoppers, totally automatic and hassle free.
“Customers are increasingly value conscious and when it comes to loyalty. Sixty-eight per cent say they want money off their shopping, while only nine per cent prefer a points scheme.
“Our customers also want relevant offers, tailored to them, from their supermarket loyalty program. Woolworths Rewards will ensure they receive many more offers on products they know and love or are likely to try."
The supermarket giant is under pressure after saying that it expects its net profit before one-off items to fall by between 28 per cent and 35 per cent in the December-half of this financial year. Investors wiped more than $3.4 billion of the value of Woolworths shares yesterday after the profit warning was issued. The company is now under pressure to deliver over $500m in cost savings to relieve pressure on margins.
Woolworths has been locked in a pricing battle with other leading supermarkets Coles and the emerging ALDI, with Fairfax media reporting that the price for Woolworths defending its leading share of the grocery market is approaching $1bn.
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