Dillons expands loyalty program, lets customers use points on groceries as well as gas

The Dillons Plus Card, which allows shoppers to earn points on grocery purchases then use them to save money on gas, has just been expanded, the store announced Tuesday.

Now, customers are able to choose whether to use their points toward fuel discounts or redeem them for “rewards” cash when buying groceries.

The expanded program has been in effect for a couple of weeks, said Sheila Regehr, the corporate affairs manager for Dillons, which has 15 stores in Wichita.

So far, she said, the expanded program is working well.

“The customers we’ve spoken with inside our stores love this expanded option,” she said. “Perhaps fuel points went unused in their household, and this is the way they can receive savings at the grocery store.”

Here’s how the new program feature works:

Customers will continue to earn one point for every $1 spent on in-store, online, pickup or delivery purchases made with a loyalty card. Points can be earned when customers purchase gift cards and qualifying prescriptions as well.

For every 100 points they redeem, they can save $1 off purchases, up to a maximum of $10. They’ll continue to save 10 cents per gallon at the pump for every 100 points, up to a maximum of $1 a gallon.

The Dillons Plus card program was expanded a couple of weeks ago

The fuel points program won’t change at all, Regehr said, and loyalty program members can continue to use their cards or enter their phone numbers at the pump to get their fuel savings.

But those hoping to utilize the new program and use their points toward grocery purchases instead will be required to sign in on the Dillon’s app or at www.dillons.com and “redeem” their points before they shop.

Customers who don’t have Plus Card accounts will be required to sign up to participate in the program. Account holders will be able to see their points summaries by signing in on the website or on the app.

Customers can earn more points on their accounts, Regehr said, by watching for Dillons’ occasional “4X” points Fridays, where they can earn quadruple the points on purchases, or by joining the Boost program, which requires a $59 or $99 annual membership fee but comes with perks like double points every day. Details are available at www.dillons.com/boost

The Dillons Plus rewards program started in 1999. In 2008, Dillons introduced the fuel points program and added gas stations at stores across Wichita.

Customers still can redeem fuel points at area Kwik Shop locations, but they can’t use points for savings on purchases inside Kwik Shop stores.

The new program is in place at all of Kroger’s Dillons grocery stores in Kansas, Gerbes stores in Missouri and Baker’s stores in Nebraska.