Weis upgrades rewards program

Weis Markets today enhanced its Weis Preferred Shopper program to offer discount rewards on nine different Weis private label products, including Weis Quality ice cream, in addition to already existing gasoline perks. It has also added a 10% discount on 6,000 Weis brand items every Tuesday to senior citizens, age 60 and over.

In the program, shoppers earn one point for every dollar spent shopping while using their Weis Preferred Shopper Card.

Under the enhanced program, in addition to redeeming their points for a 10-cent discount at Weis Gas ‘N Go fuel centers and participating Sheetz, Mirabito, High’s and Carroll Motor Fuels locations, they can also redeem them for 19-cents per pound bananas; 39-cents for a 20-ounce loaf of Weis Quality Sandwich Bread; 39-cents for a single fresh-baked muffin in the bakery department; 39-cents for one roll of Weis Quality Paper Towels; 99-cents for a 4-pound bag of Weis Quality Sugar; 99-cents for a 48-ounce carton of Weis Quality Ice Cream; $1.99 for a 16-slice package of Weis Quality American Cheese Singles; $1.99 for a 1.25-pound package of Certified Angus 75% lean ground beef; and $3.99 for a gallon of Weis Quality Organic Milk.

“We have had really robust customer feedback to our Weis Preferred Shopper program,” Ron Bonacci, vice president of marketing and advertising at Sunbury, Pa.-based Weis Markets, told Supermarket News. “We looked at what we could do to enhance our program and decided to make it more holistic to gain points by adding staple grocery items that our customers love and frequently purchase. Ultimately, we wanted to give our customers more flexibility in their reward choices.”

Bonacci added that the items selected are among the company’s best-selling products, and Weis officials are looking at further growing the list. “We plan to expand the program to include more items, especially items centered around holidays,” he said.

The addition of grocery items to the Weis Preferred Shopper program also assists customers who do not drive or live in areas without participating gas stations. “In some areas, like New Jersey, we do not have our own fuel centers and our other partner stations also do not operate, so it is a great way to expand the program to better service those customers,” Bonacci said.

The 10% discount on Weis private label is available to customers age 60 and older and encompasses some 6,000 items under the Weis Quality, Weis Signature Collection, Weis Organics, Valu Time, Full Circle and TopCare labels. “We added the senior citizen discounts because many of our older customers are on fixed incomes,” Bonacci said.

To obtain the discount, customers need to provide a valid ID at checkout to register on a one-time basis.

Weis Markets operates 205 stores in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia.