Albertsons revamps paid subscription with lower price, loyalty tie-in
Albertsons Companies is introducing a new, lower-cost annual subscription program that links to its rewards offering.
Albertsons is introducing Albertsons for U+, a paid subscription plan across all its banners that builds on its established free Albertsons for U loyalty program. For a $39 annual fee, members of Albertsons for U will continue receiving all their free loyalty benefits as well as unlimited free same-day delivery of orders more than $30.
In addition, Albertsons for U+ members will receive free pickup from the grocer’s Flash fast digital order fulfillment service or a $2 upgrade to receive Flash delivery in as soon as 30 minutes.
Normally, Flash pickup costs $3.95 per order and Flash delivery costs $11.95 per order. Albertsons for U+ members will also earn rewards points that do not expire. The grocer estimates regular participants will save an average of $25 weekly with personalized deals, digital coupons, rewards, a birthday treat and a free monthly item.
An Albertsons spokesperson confirmed that Albertsons for U+ is the next evolution of the grocer’s FreshPass subscription delivery service. Introduced in 2021, FreshPass cost $99 a year or $12.99 per month and offered unlimited free delivery on orders $30 or more and in select markets, free two-hour grocery delivery and curbside pickup.
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Customers can check the Albertsons store locator to see if the new paid service is available via their local store.
Competition is heating up in the paid subscription program space. Walmart just started making memberships in the Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus programs available together for $120 a year — almost $100 less than members pay to buy individual memberships at the two retailers.
Meanwhile, Amazon has been boosting the value of its Prime paid subscription with perks like holiday fuel savings and opening Prime delivery to other retailers that use its shipping services.
Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Companies operates stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 22 banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, ACME, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci's Food Lovers Market.
