Digital coupons have become an integral aspect of the shopping habits of American consumers. In fact, according to research by Capital One Shopping, 76% of Americans use digital coupons to purchase groceries and 75% use them to shape their shopping lists. It is with this in mind that the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association (INFRA) has collaborated with CoupDog, a next-generation digital coupon platform, to provide its retailer members with a powerful tool to drive sales and customer loyalty.
The surge in online grocery shopping due to the pandemic and the rise in prices has led to a significant increase in the use of digital coupons. Nick Auzenne, INFRA’s Director of Purchasing, acknowledges that consumers are more eager than ever to find deals, prompting INFRA to respond to the demand for user-friendly, affordable, and reliable tools from retailers and vendors alike.
CoupDog, which is powered by patented Blockchain technology, offers a cloud-based promotion engine and system of record that simplifies the creation, validation, and redemption of digital coupons. According to Auzenne, the platform’s seamless process for redemption and reimbursement is an ideal fit for retailers and brands. Rob Balfour, CEO and co-founder of CoupDog, explains that the platform makes it easy for retailers to integrate digital coupons into their point-of-sale (POS) system and offer them across various customer touchpoints such as their website, mobile apps, and in-store.
The collaboration with CoupDog has garnered the attention of major companies, including Chobani, Coca-Cola, Danone, Frito Lay, Kellogg, Kraft Heinz, and Nestle, as well as distributor United Natural Foods (UNFI). Hence, it is no surprise that INFRA is piloting CoupDog in select independent natural retailers.
From the retailer’s standpoint, the time taken to create coupons has been significantly reduced. While it previously took minutes or even hours to manually create coupons, the plug-and-play platform offered by CoupDog now enables retailers to create coupons in a matter of seconds. Coupled with comprehensive analytics, this allows retailers to track the effectiveness of their coupon programs.
Rob Jones, CFO of Marczyk Fine Foods in Denver, Colorado, highlights the advantages of transitioning from paper coupons to electronic ones. He elaborates on how paper coupons have been unpredictable in terms of redemption, and the shift to electronic coupons has streamlined and made the process more reliable.
The partnership between INFRA and CoupDog holds tremendous potential for organic and natural retailers. Over the next year, INFRA and its beta-site members aim to test different strategies and tools to identify the most effective approaches for their 350 retailers and their customers. The ultimate objective is to enhance retailer bottom lines and provide new channels for brands to connect with customers. Auzenne anticipates integrating these findings into the 2026 vendor opportunities package, thereby driving growth for retailers and brands.
With a range of innovative features and substantial industry backing, INFRA’s new partnership with CoupDog is poised to transform the way retailers engage with consumers and cultivate brand loyalty. As digital coupon technology continues to advance, INFRA’s forward-thinking approach is certain to position its members for success in the rapidly changing retail landscape.