Saving money at the supermarket in Italy: is having a loyalty card really worth it? It depends. And the answer changes considerably depending on where you live and how much you spend per month.
The logic behind these programs is always the same at its core: you provide consumption data, and they return a fraction of it in discounts. What varies is how much that fraction is actually worth, and whether the extra benefits compensate for the effort of managing yet another card in your wallet or another app on your phone.
A Coop This is probably the most interesting case, and also the most different. It's not a free card. It's a membership fee, a one-time €25. In return, the network estimates an average saving of €200 per year per member family. If the calculations add up, the investment pays for itself in weeks. In addition to discounts on purchases, members have access to reduced rates for energy, gas, and mobile phone plans. Which sounds ambitious, but it really exists. Those who join in stores Coop Alliance 3.0 Until June, you can also earn five €5 vouchers.
A Esselunga, which operates mainly in the north-central region, has a more classic program: one point per euro spent, €20 discount for every 2.000 points accumulated. The pace is slow. It requires spending €2.000 to recover €20, or a 1% return. It's nothing special, but the Fidaty Oro version and the partnerships with Trenitalia and Italy Airways They can make a difference for those who travel frequently.
Conad e Carrefour They operate on a similar logic, with points awarded per euro spent and redeemable for discounts, but with one important detail: Conad applies an automatic 10% discount for families with young children and for customers over 65 years old on specific days. For these profiles, it may be the most advantageous program of all, without needing to accumulate any points. Carrefour, in turn, was sold last December to the group. NewPrinces but maintained the program PAYBACKIntegrated with partners such as American Express, Q8 gas stations, and Bricofer stores. Useful if you already use these services, irrelevant if you don't.
O Lidl More It's the simplest to explain: it only exists through the app, offers weekly coupons that need to be activated before entering the store, and gives small rewards after each purchase. There's no long-term points accumulation. It's an immediate discount or nothing. For those who don't want management, it's the least laborious.
Ultimately, none of these programs will change your financial life. But if you already shop at one of these supermarkets out of habit, not having the card is simply leaving money on the table.
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