Attn Grocery Store Shoppers: Jewel-Osco Ditching Loyalty Cards

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In a move that the Chicago Trib and retail industry experts describe as puzzling, head-scratching and risky, Jewel-Osco has decided to do away with its loyalty card program. The system, pioneered more than twenty years ago, has "millions" of cards in circulation.

The company announced the news via its website, which states "Something good is here!" optimistically, elaborating that now every shopper will receive savings without having to use cards. A grocery analyst quoted in the article believes that the move comes after increased pressure from big box chain Wal-Mart, a pro at undercutting the pricing of its local competitors.
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