A customer holds their shopping basket at a Metro grocery store In Toronto on Feb. 2.Cole Burston/The Canadian Press
Metro’s MRU-T loyalty program Moi makes its Ontario debut this week, the latest in a string of grocery loyalty program shakeups over the past two years.
The Air Miles/Metro breakup was the most significant of these, but updates to other programs warrant another look to ensure you’re maximizing value.
Moi
Participating stores: Metro, Food Basics, Super C, Jean Coutu, Brunet and Première
Moi, already a significant player in Quebec, officially arrives in Ontario on Oct. 24, when you can start earning points at Metro stores.
In Quebec, you earn one point for every dollar spent at participating stores. However, you earn one point for every three dollars spent at stores in Ontario. In-store offers and targeted promos offer additional points. Once you’ve earned 500 points, you can redeem them for $4 off your next purchase.
Moi is interesting because you earn points on all your purchases without needing a co-branded credit card. The exception is at Food Basics, where you don’t earn Moi Rewards on regular purchases..
To maximize your earnings, RBC credit and debit cardholders can link their Moi Rewards to RBC’s Avion Rewards and earn one extra Moi Rewards point for every two dollars spent. There’s also the Moi RBC Visa card that allows you to earn Moi Rewards on all your purchases.
Air Miles
Participating stores: Most grocery stores that accept Mastercard
When Metro parted ways with Air Miles earlier this year, Air Miles immediately announced that their consumer credit cards would earn two times the miles at eligible grocery stores, liquor stores and wholesale clubs. This made it a good program for those who like to shop at different grocery stores.
One unique aspect of Air Miles is their receipt scanning offer. That’s where you earn extra Air Miles on select items, such as chocolate, paper towels and ketchup. These offer items rotate regularly. To claim your extra Air Miles, you scan your receipt with the app.
PC Optimum
Participating stores: Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Fortinos, Independent, Valu-Mart, Zehrs, Shoppers Drug Mart, Esso, Mobil and Joe Fresh
PC Optimum is incredibly popular since it has the largest network of grocery stores, gas stations and drug stores in the country. You only earn points on in-store and targeted offers. The exception is at Shoppers Drug Mart, where you earn 15 points per dollar spent. Esso and Mobil also give you at least 10 points per litre at the pump when you scan your PC Optimum card or enter the phone number registered to your account.
The recently introduced PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard offers good value since you get a free PC Express pass, which entitles you to free grocery pick up and delivery. This card has an annual fee of $120, but it earns you 50 points per dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart, 40 points at Loblaw banner grocery stores and 40 points at Joe Fresh. You also get up to seven cents a litre in points at Esso/Mobil stations.
Typically, 1,000 points can be redeemed for $10 off groceries. However, Shoppers Drug Mart often has bonus redemption events where you can get extra value. For example, normally 100,000 points get you $100 off. However, during a bonus event, you might get $140 off.
PC Optimum is ideal for those who want to maximize the value of their loyalty points, as there are multiple ways to earn and redeem your points.
Scene+
Participating stores: Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA, Rachelle Béry, Cineplex and Rakuten
Scene+ has been relatively quiet since it was fully integrated with Empire Co. Ltd. grocery stores. While the program does have some good partners in Cineplex, Rakuten, Swiss Chalet and The Rec Room, it’s still a relatively small network.
When shopping at Empire-owned grocery stores, you’ll only earn points for in-store and targeted offers. However, if you have the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, you’ll earn six points per dollar spent at Empire-owned grocery stores and five points at all other grocery stores. This is the highest earning rate at grocery stores for any co-branded grocery loyalty credit card.
Costco
Costco doesn’t have a loyalty program. Instead, you get 2-per-cent cash back, which is paid out once a year if you have an Executive Membership.
Since an Executive Membership costs $65 more than the Gold Star Membership – $130 vs. $65 – you need to get at least $65 in value for it to be worthwhile. That means you need to spend $3,250 annually to come out ahead with the Executive Membership.
There is a CIBC Costco Mastercard, that gives you 3-per-cent cash back on Costco gas and 2 per cent back at Costo.ca. However, at Costco warehouses, you only earn 1-per-cent cash back.
Walmart
Walmart’s loyalty program is tied directly to its two credit cards. The Walmart Rewards World Mastercard and the Walmart Rewards Mastercard.
Both cards give you 5 per cent back in Walmart Rewards – which is like cash back – on select Walmart brands, such as Great Value, equate and George. At Walmart.ca, World Mastercard holders earn 3-per-cent cash back, while regular Rewards Mastercard holders get 1.25 per cent back. Both cards earn you 1.25 per cent back in Walmart stores.
If you shop at Walmart regularly and prefer its in-house brands, getting a Walmart card could be valuable.
Barry Choi is a personal finance and travel expert at moneywehave.com. He was previously affiliated with Air Miles, PC Optimum and Walmart but currently has no relationship with any of the brands mentioned.