9 February 2010: Nectar, the UK’s leading coalition loyalty programme, is to launch an Italian version of the Nectar programme to millions of Italian consumers, it was announced today by Groupe Aeroplan Inc, the global leader in loyalty management and owner of Nectar in the UK.
Nectar Italia, S.r.l. has been set up to launch and operate the programme and is a joint venture with Oney Banque Accord, a leading financial institution with more than 6.2 million clients in Europe. Groupe Aeroplan will have a majority 75% ownership in the new program with Oney Banque Accord owning the remaining 25%.
The programme is modelled on the successful Nectar coalition loyalty programme that has signed up 50% of households in the UK. It will offer collectors the opportunity to gain points at more than 5,000 retail outlets throughout Italy. These points can be redeemed for a wide range of rewards.
The partners in the Italian coalition include:
- Simply Sma stores, the number three grocer in Italy with 275 proprietary stores and 725 franchises branded Punto, Simply, Ipersimply, Sma, Cityper
- Auchan Hypermarkets with 50 stores nationwide
- Api Ip, one of the largest networks of fuel stations in Italy with 4200 stations
- So Oney which will launch the Nectar Italia co-branded credit card alongside its existing credit and charge cards
- UniEuro, electronics and electrical goods retailer with 97 direct stores and 70 franchises
- PC City, the IT specialists operating as a sister brand to UniEuro
- Hertz, Car Rental company with 230 agencies in Italy
Further to these partners Italians will be able to collect and redeem points with online retailers and through Nectar’s own credit card. It is anticipated that more partners will join the Nectar Italia programme in the future
Gerard Whelan, Managing Director of Nectar Italia, said:
“Millions of Italian consumers will soon be able to benefit from collecting and redeeming points through Nectar, not just when they’re shopping for groceries but when they’re filling up with petrol, buying electrical goods and even buying financial services products.
“Having so many well-known names signed up to the scheme is testament to the effectiveness of Nectar’s coalition model in the UK which we are replicating in Italy. As one of the world’s largest economies with 58 million consumers, the Italian market presents significant opportunities for further growth of the programme which we are looking forward to exploring.”
David Johnston, CEO of Groupe Aeroplan Europe, said:
“The launch of Nectar Italia is a natural next step for Groupe Aeroplan building on the Nectar programme’s success in the UK. All the companies participating in the launch have understood the value of the coalition model which has worked so well in the UK both for rewarding customers and helping retailers better understand their customers’ needs.
About Groupe Aeroplan Inc.
Groupe Aeroplan Inc. is the global leader in loyalty management. Groupe Aeroplan owns Aeroplan, Canada’s premier loyalty program, Carlson Marketing, an international loyalty marketing services, engagement and events provider headquartered in the US, as well as Nectar, the United Kingdom’s leading coalition loyalty program. In the Gulf Region, Groupe Aeroplan owns 60 per cent of Rewards Management Middle East, the operator of Air Miles programs in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. Groupe Aeroplan also operates LMG Insight & Communication, a customer-driven insight and data analytics business offering international services to retailers and their suppliers.
For more information about Groupe Aeroplan, please visit www.groupeaeroplan.com.
Nectar
Nectar, the United Kingdom’s leading coalition loyalty programme is owned by Groupe Aeroplan Inc., the global leader in loyalty management. 50 percent of UK households collect Nectar points when shopping for groceries, booking a holiday, paying household bills, buying petrol and even eating out. Collectors also earn Nectar points every time they shop online via Nectar.com at over 400 leading online retailers. Since Nectar’s launch in 2002 over £1.3 billion of rewards have been redeemed by its collectors. Rewards include money off shopping, travel and general merchandise. For more information please visit: www.nectar.com
For more information, please contact:
Megan Ratcliffe, Groupe Aeroplan
Tel: 020 7152 4881
[email protected]
Rowena Denham / Joanna Kwiatkowska / Rose Beynon, Fishburn Hedges
Tel: 020 7839 4321
[email protected]