Arco, Albertson’s Try Gas Discounts

Atlantic Richfield Co. and Albertson’s Inc. have launched an unusual--and timely--consumer loyalty program that converts food purchases into discounts at the gas pump.

The Gas Rewards program, which is so far limited to the Bakersfield area, will allow customers to earn discounts on Arco gasoline by purchasing some of the more than 800 grocery items selected by Albertson’s. A customer could amass a discount as high as the posted street price at the participating Arco service station for as much as 10 gallons at a time, the companies said. After shopping at Albertson’s, the customer gets a voucher listing the total discount. At a participating Arco station, the voucher number can be entered at a pay-at-the-pump machine, which electronically verifies the discount.

An Arco spokesman declined to speculate if the promotion would be expanded beyond Bakersfield. Albertson’s last year began selling gasoline at dozens of store locations and has operated a similar customer loyalty program for its own gasoline business.