Grocery & drug stores

[ronvalron]

Hi Upromise employees (I know you're lurking -- as you know, forums work best when employees of the sponsoring company participate, so please come out) --

Why doesn't Whole Foods participate? What about Freshdirect?

Thanks...

[Marcie]

Hi ronvalron! Of course we're here to help you out.

Throughout the years Upromise has approached many (I dare say most) major supermarkets and grocery chains throughout the US in hopes that they'll join other Upromise partners in helping our members to save for college. To date we've not been able to successfully partner with Whole Foods or FreshDirect. Don't worry, that doesn't mean that we've given up! We'll continue to approach them as well as any other major companies our members tell us they'd like to see participating in the our service.

[ronvalron]

Thanks for the reply -- please keep after them

I don't think it would be too over the top for you to email all Upromise members in a certain geographical area where you're targeting a particular chain or chains that aren't participating and give members the emails of the Whole Foods or Freshdirect (or whoever) executives who are turning you down. That way we could lobby them directly, and it wouldn't look you UP was just *saying* that members really want the grocer to join.

I'd be happy to write to FD and remind them that as I spend $500 or more a month there, it would be great to get a little something back via upromise.

How bout laying that email on me right here in the forum? Is it Jason Ackerman? who's the fd exec responsible for their non participation?!

R

[David]

I'm president of Upromise and after reading your post, I wanted to respond directly.

We had a very good discussion with the VP of Marketing at Fresh Direct and the COO of FD nearly 2 years ago. Unfortunately, they were unable to integrate with Upromise at that time. We would very much like to facilitate Upromise member value through Fresh Direct and think it's great if you let your voice be heard.

Best

-David

[ronvalron]

David, thanks so much for taking the time...

I'll lobby them!

Ron

[harpermom]

Whole Foods would be great!!!

[mris]

I would also be very much in favor of Whole Foods and FreshDirect, as I use both of those. While we're on the topic, how about Duane Reade and Target? Target has no loyalty card that I know of but Duane Reade does.

[Marcie]

Hi mris. I know that we've approached Target in the past, but I'm not 100% sure about Duane Reade. I've forwarded this suggestion over to our business development team so that they can check their records and reach out to Duane Reade if they haven't already. Remember, as a consumer your voice matters too! We encourage our members to tell companies that they want to see them participating in the Upromise program, so don't be afraid to tell stores you frequent that you'd like them to join.

Cheers-
Marcie

[nancilynn]

I would like to see WalMart too, will there be any grocery stores in Wisconsin that do and or will participate? We might be moving there and I would hate to lose my grocery participations.

[DispDave]

Pick & Save stores all participate and we have CVS also.