Ace nails grocery rewards

Ace Hardware Corp. is best known for selling home improvement merchandise, but also operates a growing grocery channel.



Using technology from ProLogic Retail Services, a provider of loyalty marketing solutions specializing in independent grocers, the retail cooperative is enabling its Ace Rewards loyalty program in co-located grocery stores. Ace operates grocery in both “store-within-a-store” configurations and adjacent storefronts with grocery partners.



Leveraging ProLogic's capabilities, the Ace Rewards program can now deliver discounts to shoppers through the grocer's POS system.



"We are pleased to add this capability to the Ace Rewards program in Ace Hardware retail grocery stores," said Rick Williams, VP of IT, Ace Hardware. "Using ProLogic technology, we can now offer a wide range of discounts and promotions delivered in the grocery checkout lane."



An increasing number of retailers from a wide range of verticals have been entering the grocery vertical in recent years. In addition to major forays by discount retailers such as Walmart and Target, other chains including Staples and Toys “R” Us have experimented with CPG and grocery offerings.



Given the high frequency of grocery purchases, despite its low margins the vertical can be a big boost to a retailer’s sales and traffic. Now Ace is further obtaining benefits by cross-promoting its hardware products to grocery shoppers.