Key Food Expands Loyalty, Cashback Offers
Key Food Stores Co-Operative is partnering with retail technology provider Swiftly as it looks to modernize its digital shopper experience and expand retail media opportunities across its network of more than 460 independently owned supermarkets.
The partnership will bring Swiftly’s app and web platform to Key Food banners, along with an integrated Alcohol Cashback program, as the cooperative works to strengthen digital engagement, loyalty and monetization across its footprint. A rollout is expected to begin in the coming months.
Key Food operates across eight states, with a concentration in the Northeast, and serves a large base of local, repeat shoppers through family-owned stores. As grocery shopping increasingly starts online — even when transactions are completed in-store — the cooperative is aiming to provide more consistent digital tools across its banners while maintaining the flexibility required by independent operators.
According to the company, the initiative is intended to simplify its digital ecosystem while enabling more personalized promotions and measurable media activations. The addition of cashback offers, including in regulated categories such as alcohol, gives Key Food and its brand partners another lever to influence trips and baskets through mobile-first engagement.
Dean Janeway, CEO of Key Food Stores Co-Operative, said in a media release that the partnership reflects a longer-term investment in digital capabilities that can support loyalty and growth across markets. In its largest region, Key Food serves more than 8 million shoppers, many of whom interact with multiple banners under the cooperative’s umbrella.
From a retail media perspective, the Swiftly platform enables Key Food to activate offers tied to shopper behavior and transaction data, while providing CPG partners with more visibility into campaign performance. The approach aligns with broader industry efforts to extend retail media beyond national chains and into regional and independent grocery networks.
The Key Food rollout follows a broader wave of investment by regional grocers in loyalty-driven promotions, mobile engagement and retail media infrastructure, as retailers look to drive repeat visits, increase basket size and unlock new revenue streams without disrupting core store operations. Back in November, 7-Eleven also partnered with Swiftly to roll out the alcohol cashback program.
As the deployment progresses, Key Food will begin introducing digital features and promotions across participating locations. In addition to Key Food, the cooperative's stores operate under other banners, including Food Universe, The Food Emporium and SuperFresh.
