BURBANK, CA - Even prior to having a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the grocery world, rewards programs easily made sense to me as a win-win for all involved—I saved a little to splurge more, and the store saw my cart fuller than I planned. While loyalty programs are an increasing tactic for the buy-side, Gelson’s Markets is adding its own specialty spin to a newly launched rewards program.

“The more you spend, the more you get!” the company touts in a post on oc-breeze, detailing four different tiers, each increasing a consumer’s status in culinary prowess with the enticing titles Foodie, Gourmet, Connoisseur, and Epicure.

For every dollar spent, a point is earned, and such titles are sure to hook Gelson’s demographic, which tends to cater to seekers of specialty items.

And, of course, the higher a consumer ranks, the more they win in a variety of perks and benefits.

As grocery delivery continues to skyrocket, the retailer added that Instacart is also integrated into the program, making it easy for customers to order online, pick up their groceries, and still earn points.

This is a tactic likely to boost rings at the register while giving Gelson’s more insights to better serve its shoppers.

As incentive programs like these continue to be introduced, I for one am interested to see what small touches make the biggest difference to the bottom line and to retail trends overall.

Gelson's Markets