Well, folks. We all knew it was coming eventually and it was good while it lasted, but….

This week, Kroger informed me that the Kroger Columbus/Great Lakes region (my personal Kroger region) will no longer be doubling coupons. This was officially announced this morning and will be taking effect May 1st. That means your paper coupons will only be accepted at FACE value.

I know this is very disappointing news, especially for you “high doublers” ($0.55 and over), and I totally feel your pain. This is going to be a huge adjustment. But, before you vow to boycott Kroger altogether, let me be the voice of reason. I encourage you to go through my posts from the last few weeks and notice that the MAJORITY of deals do not require any doubling. In fact, if you browse my current Must-Do Deals list, you’ll see that you can get AMAZING deals with no doubles required!! You may find that even after taking off the extra $0.50 or $0.60 out of the equation, you will still consider the final cost a stockup price.

Do me a favor and go through your Kroger receipts and look at the BONUS Savings to see how much of your savings came from doubling so you have a good idea of how much doubling has really saved you.  As good as double coupons SEEM…the numbers just don’t scream “unbelievable”!

Of course if you need to vent, feel free to do so in the comments below. If you can’t complain here, where can ya!? 🙂  Maybe those of you who have already been through this can give these Columbus/Great Lakes region-ers some moral support. 

Official Press Release

Columbus Division Announces Store-Wide Price Reductions

Thousands of prices reduced in produce, natural foods, organics and grocery, benefitting 100% of customers

Double coupons eliminated May 1^st

Other savings programs continue, including: $4/$10 generic prescriptions, fuel rewards up to $1.00 per gallon, digital coupons, loyalty mailers and weekly specials

COLUMBUS, OH (March 28, 2014) – Kroger’s Columbus Division has announced a comprehensive price reduction plan, investing millions of dollars to reduce prices across the store. Kroger merchandisers started cutting even more prices March 3, and all new low prices will officially be in place by April 2.

The Kroger team carefully selected items that are frequently found in most customers’ shopping carts to ensure all customers would benefit from the price reductions over time.

Kroger is reducing a significant number of produce prices. These lower prices also will encourage customers to increase the amount of healthy, nutritious produce in their diet.

The program includes a significant number of lower prices in natural foods and organics, reinforcing a rapid increase in natural foods sales over the last decade. Natural foods sales have more than doubled at Kroger stores in the last four years. That trend accelerated with the highly successful launch of the Simple Truth line of products, a Kroger exclusive. Kroger is rewarding natural foods and organic customers as part of this initiative.

As part of this investment in lower prices for all customers, Kroger’s Columbus Division has made the decision to stop doubling coupons effective Thursday, May 1, 2014.  Kroger stores in the region will continue to accept manufacturer coupons, valid printables and valid electronic coupons at face value. In the Columbus Division, less than 2% of all customers are what Kroger categorizes as “heavy coupon users,” and 86% of customers are not even using double coupons at all.

“Double coupons originated decades ago, in an era when none of the current online and electronic coupon options were available to customers and smartphones did not exist,” said Jackie Siekmann, spokesperson for Kroger’s Columbus Division. “Kroger will continue to evolve to meet the expectations of 21^st century shoppers.”

Kroger’s investment in lowering thousands of prices for all customers will total at least three times the value currently received by a very small number of customers by doubling coupons.

“With the economic downturn in 2008, The Kroger Co. responded by reducing prices throughout our stores, benefitting both our customers and associates,” said Siekmann. “We continue to leverage our scale as one of the largest retailers in the world to work with suppliers to reduce costs, and in turn pass those savings along to our customers.”

The latest campaign to reduce every day prices is an extension of the ongoing investment. Some examples of the new pricing include:

Roma Tomatoes: former retail $1.29/lb., new price $.99/lb.

Nabisco Oreo 18 oz.: former retail $3.19, new price $2.99

Kroger Peanut Butter 28 oz.: former retail $3.29, new price $2.99

Kibbles ‘N Bits Dog Food 17.6 oz.: former retail $12.89, new price $10.99

In addition to price reductions, Kroger continues to offer customers comprehensive savings opportunities including fuel rewards, $4/$10 generic prescriptions, loyalty mailers tailored to individual customers’ shopping habits, weekly specials and digital coupons.

About Kroger

Kroger, the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer, employs more than 339,000 associates who serve customers in 2,422 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s. The Company also operates 790 convenience stores, 323 fine jewelry stores, 1,141 supermarket fuel centers and 37 food processing plants in the U.S. Recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in America in 2010, Kroger supports hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and grassroots organizations in the communities it serves. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 160 million meals a year through more than 80 Feeding America food bank partners. For more information, visit Kroger.com.

The regions that DO still double are as follows:

• Michigan
• King Soopers (affiliate store in CO)
• Fry’s (affiliate in AZ)
• Knoxville TN area stores?

Follow the instructions to Find your Kroger region.

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