Two of Canada's favourite loyalty programs come together today as the PC Optimum program, increasing rewards and convenience for millions of Canadians

TORONTO, Feb. 1, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, Loblaw has launched the PC Optimum program, bringing together two of Canada's favourite loyalty programs, PC Plus and Shoppers Optimum. Points from the old programs have been automatically converted, at full dollar value. Members can now swap for a new card at any participating store, upgrade their existing PC Plus app or download the new PC Optimum app, linking their existing memberships in the process.

With 8- and 11-million members respectively, the programs combine to give Canadians the convenience and power of a single loyalty app or card to earn and redeem points across the nation's largest retail network, including nearly 2,500 food, drug and beauty stores and related e-commerce sites.

"We spent years listening to our loyalty members, and custom-made the PC Optimum program to suit their desire to save money and treat themselves," said Jim Noteboom, SVP, Loyalty and Consumer Insights, Loblaw Companies Limited. "PC Optimum ties a big bow around all we have to offer – including some of Canada's favourite food, wellness, apparel and beauty brands and stores – adding increased rewards and convenience."

Canadians ranked the Shoppers Optimum and PC Plus programs as the nation's best when asked which loyalty programs provide them the most value1. The new PC Optimum program combines their much-loved features, including weekly personalized offers in addition to in-store offers, the ability to redeem points for almost anything in our stores, and exclusive points-earning and points-redemption events. Other key benefits include:

• The ability to earn and redeem points in nearly 2,500 stores and Loblaw -owned online services, including Real Canadian Superstore, Atlantic Superstore, City Market, No Frills, Independent, Zehrs, Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Shoppers Home Health Care and online at Loblaw-owned online grocery websites, joefresh.com and beautyBoutique.ca.

• The ability to redeem faster. With the PC Optimum program, members can redeem once they reach 10,000 points.

• 50 per cent more points for almost every dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart.

• President's Choice Financial^® Mastercard^® cardholders earn up to 30 PC Optimum points for every dollar they spend across Loblaw's retail network, with an additional 15 PC Optimum points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix stores. PC Financial has provided Canadians with more than $1 billion in free groceries.

For more information, visit: www.pcoptimum.ca.

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1 From June 29-July 7, 2017, an online survey was conducted among 912 randomly selected Canadian adults who are RESEARCH NOW panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 4%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to education, age, gender and region (and in Quebec, language) Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In Quebec, due to the difference in laws applicable to loyalty programs, members of the Pharmaprix Optimum program will have until May 2, 2018 to convert their points at full value to PC Optimum points or redeem them online or in store.

About Loblaw Companies Limited Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, the nation's largest retailer, and the majority unit holder of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services, and wireless mobile products and services. With nearly 2,500 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees, and Associate-owners employ approximately 200,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.

Loblaw's purpose – Live Life Well® – puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the companies' stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at more than 1,300 Shoppers Drug Mart^® and Pharmaprix^® locations and more than 500 Loblaw locations; PC Financial^® financial services; affordable Joe Fresh^® fashion and family apparel; and three of Canada's top consumer brands in Life Brand^®, no name^® and President's Choice^®.

SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited