Shopkick Signs First Supermarket Chain

Shopkick today announced its first supermarket chain partnership, penning a deal with Giant Eagle to bring activity from the loyalty app into the retailer's 228 stores in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland. CPG partners at launch include Kraft, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever.

Supermarket patrons with Shopkick on their smartphones can input their Giant Eagle rewards card number into the app to get started. They can then purchase from brands owned by the aforementioned CPG firms to collect rewards points via the app. In a program dubbed "kickbuys," the points can be redeemed to buy song downloads, movie tickets, travel vouchers, and Facebook credits, as well as donate them as cash to 30 charities.

Shopkick says roughly 2 million consumers have downloaded its app. In a prepared statement, Giant Eagle spokesperson Rob Borella said the partnership builds on the Pittsburgh-based company's growing mobile agenda, which includes a branded app of its own and a digital coupon program.

Meanwhile, the companies didn't disclose financial terms or how long the campaign is slated to run. Giant Eagle joins brands like Target, Best Buy, Macy's, and Sports Authority as big retail names that have tested Shopkick.