Loyalty cards are a staple of the retail marketplace. So when the Midwest grocery chain Jewel-Osco recently announced its intention to discontinue its loyalty card program, the brand ignited a debate over whether or not the loyalty card concept is still a viable strategy for boosting loyalty in certain retail sectors. Jewel-Osco defended its decision by saying that the brand would instead focus on delivering everyday low prices to all of its customers—a strategy that, on the surface, sounds appealing to price-conscious grocery shoppers. read more »