Price Chopper: Go green, earn points

Price Chopper/Market 32 has continued the expansion of its innovative rewards program through a new partnership with Green Mountain Energy, which allows customers to earn loyalty points for switching to the sustainable energy provider and adopting its Community Solar Program. 

Customers can now earn 10,000 loyalty points in Price Chopper/Market 32’s AdvantEdge Rewards program by moving over to Green Mountain Energy. They can earn another 6,000 points for signing up for the company’s Community Solar program. 

 Sean Weiss, vice president of marketing at Price Chopper/Market 32, told Winsight Grocery Business in an email that those participating in the Community Solar Program entails customers opting in and receiving a solar offset credit in their bill. There is no installation of panels at the customer’s house, he noted.  

“That home’s usage information is used to calculate a portion of the solar project for that customer, which is an up to 10% reduction in their utility bill,” he said.  

The new offer is among the numerous ways shoppers can earn and spend rewards points from the grocer. Price Chopper/Market 32 launched the AdvantEdge Rewards program in May 2021 in partnership with tcc Global, which manages supermarket loyalty programs.  

The grocer’s rewards program originally included discounts for groceries and gas, but the expansion allowed customers to donate their points to charities and local schools or use them to help make student loan payments, purchase United Airlines miles, enter sweepstakes or sign up for magazine subscriptions, among other options. 

The grocer also released a mobile game in March—Daily SurPRIZE, Frozen Food Frenzy—that enabled users to earn points by wiping away virtual frost from a grocery store cooler. 

“We’re pleased to provide our customers with even more choice when it comes to earning AdvantEdge Rewards points through the partnership with Green Mountain Energy,” Weiss said in a statement. “Their commitment to clean energy and sustainability projects like community solar align nicely with our pillar of local and community support.” 

Green Mountain Energy noted its commitment to sustainability, adding that it has prevented more than 100 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere since its inception in 1997. 

“Green Mountain Energy seeks to raise awareness about the importance and benefits of sustainability including the use of clean energy,” said Mark Parsons, Green Mountain Energy vice president, in a statement. “This partnership with Price Chopper/Market 32 and tcc Global allows us to educate and reward customers who share these values.” 

The decision to tie loyalty points to environmental sustainability could be a smart move for Price Chopper/Market 32, considering a recent survey by Numerator showing that 52% of U.S. households are worried about the state of the environment. 

* This story was updated to include comments from Sean Weiss.