When and why are many French supermarkets phasing out shopper loyalty cards?
They have issued advice on how to avoid losing your points
Loyalty cards are popular in France, with a significant 94% of supermarket shoppers saying they are signed up to at least one scheme, reports Notre Temps
Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock
Many major supermarkets in France - including Carrefour, Monoprix, and Casino - have this year announced they are phasing out or making changes to their shopper loyalty card schemes.
Changes include the phasing out of the cards, or the introduction of stricter limits on point expiry dates.
What are supermarket loyalty cards?
Typically, loyalty cards help shoppers to collect points that can later be converted into vouchers enabling money off or attractive deals for common purchases.
Loyalty cards are popular in France. A significant 94% of supermarket shoppers say they are signed up, while 87% of people say they are signed up to at least one loyalty card scheme in general, and a similar percentage (80%) use these cards to reduce their spending on food, reports Notre Temps.
What changes have been announced?
Recent brand announcements include:
Carrefour: Points can be converted into vouchers, but the points will now expire on February 28.
Monoprix: Points collected before October 31, 2024 have now expired. Euros collected after this date can be used until October 31, 2025.
Auchan: Points collected before October 31, 2024 must be used by January 31, 2025. Points collected after must be used by the end of 2026.
Casino: Existing points collected before the end of 2024 are valid until February 31, 2025.
Intermarché: Euros collected before December 31, 2024 must be used before March 1, 2025.
Franprix: Points must be used before March 31, 2025.
Picard: Euros on the card must be used before January 31, 2025.
Only the brands E. Leclerc and Système U have not announced any end dates to their loyalty schemes, nor any new expiration date for points collected (although Système U has announced some changes).
Read also: Carrefour announces change to loyalty card for shoppers in France
Leclerc and Système U state that their points do not expire if the customer uses their card at least once every 14 months and 13 months, respectively.
Other non-supermarket brands, particularly DIY and homeware stores, have also announced new expiration dates for existing card scheme points, including IKEA, Leroy Merlin, Boulanger, Décathlon, and Castorama, reports Capital. However, none of these (DIY stores) have announced the total closure of their schemes, meaning they will still exist in some capacity, whether in a different format, or enabling clients to continue gathering points.
Why are the schemes disappearing or changing?
Carrefour has said its change in direction can be partly attributed to:
High costs: Loyalty schemes squeeze retailers' margins, at a time when food costs have been spiralling and margins are tighter than ever.
New offer models: Alternative solutions are becoming more relevant in today’s digital world, including targeted promotions for specific products, or digital offers sent by email.
Read more: The French supermarkets offering subscriptions for in-store discounts
Other brands such as Auchan and Système U have said that the changes to their rules are due to wanting to:
What should I do to ensure I can use my points?
To avoid a loss of points, customers are advised to check their accounts, points levels, and expiration dates regularly, to avoid collected points from expiring before use.
Read also: Supermarket shoppers in France warned over loyalty card scam
Many of the schemes also offer the option to sign up for notifications and emails that serve as reminders of soon-to-expire points or time-limited deals.
