Schnucks Enhances Digital Promotions With Ibotta

Midwestern private grocery chain operator Schnuck Markets is growing its promotional efforts through a new partnership with digital rewards tech company Ibotta.

Schnucks has joined the Ibotta Performance Network (IPN), a digital network that coordinates and delivers promotions across retailer platforms, large third-party publisher sites and Ibotta’s direct-to-consumer properties. 

Ibotta will provide customers access to exclusive and personalized product offers and rewards through the Schnucks Rewards program and stores across the Midwest. A key component of the partnership is “strategic research and development” to ultimately build a “next generation” grocery shopping experience for consumers, according to a statement from Ibotta.

In addition, the R&D component will also enable Ibotta and Schnucks to co-develop more dynamic customer experiences. Potential areas of innovation include advanced digital offers in retail media and a heightened focus on in-store touchpoints.

“Through this partnership, Schnucks customers will have access to a wider range of digital coupons in our Schnucks Rewards program, creating more value for customers with every in-store or online shop,” Tom Henry, Schnucks chief data officer, said in the statement. “Together with Ibotta, Schnucks is committed to creating innovative retail solutions that will shape the future of grocery shopping.”

Digital offers from the IPN are set to become available to Schnucks customers later this year. This collaboration marks Ibotta’s first major retailer partnership since going public in April.

“We believe that one of the primary purposes of innovation should be to enhance the customer experience, including providing the right customer the right offer at the right time,” an Ibotta spokesperson told P2PI. “We look forward to working together to better understand how to leverage technology to make the shopper journey faster, more seamless and ultra-personalized.”

In addition, Schnucks works with Grocery TV, leveraging its in-store retail media network of digital screens at select stores. The retailer also leverages Instacart's Carrot Ads advertising solutions and technology as well as its smart shopping carts with digital advertising screens dubbed Caper Carts.