Growing a grocery cooperative means navigating competing priorities. Technology vendors pitch countless platforms, but what works for corporate leadership might burden store owners. What appeals to customers might complicate operations. Finding a solution that genuinely benefits all three stakeholders can feel nearly impossible.

That's where Upside comes in for Wakefern. Upside drives new, incremental customers to stores through personalized cash-back offers. This approach creates a win-win-win scenario that benefits store owners, corporate leadership, and customers alike.

For store owners: measurable results with no added burden

Store owners are constantly evaluating new tools, but most come with tradeoffs. Upside delivers profit growth without adding operational friction, and it also supports local marketing efforts that drive real results at the store level.

Owners in similar cooperative models have seen notable increases in customer visits and larger average baskets. These improvements are driven by shoppers who weren't visiting before, not just shifting behavior from existing customers.

The setup is simple. There’s no staff training required, no system changes, and no disruption to current operations. Pricing and promotional strategies remain fully under the owner's control, allowing Upside to work in the background while store teams focus on their day-to-day.

One of our key advantages is exclusivity. By locking out competitors from overlapping locations, store owners gain a strategic edge, particularly against national brands and big-box retailers. This approach enhances Upside’s value in the marketplace and creates urgency to act before the opportunity is no longer available.

Getting started is straightforward. Store owners can launch a pilot at a small number of locations or scale it more broadly. This flexible approach fits well within Wakefern’s decentralized structure, making it easy to tailor the rollout to each owner's preferences.

For Wakefern corporate: aligned with core priorities

Corporate leadership is focused on modernizing operations, strengthening loyalty programs, and growing retail media. Upside contributes to each of these priorities with a minimal lift.

Upside’s transaction-based targeting helps bring back lapsed and infrequent shoppers, improving customer acquisition and driving engagement with participating stores.

The platform also adds a layer of personalized communication that works alongside Wakefern's Price Plus program. It complements all existing marketing efforts, including loyalty, increasing customer touchpoints and supporting retention without overlapping or conflicting with current initiatives. 

Just as important, Upside offers hands-on support to both corporate teams and store operators. This helps simplify coordination across Wakefern’s independent ownership structure.

For customers: meaningful rewards with no added effort

Modern shoppers expect value that fits seamlessly into their routine. Upside delivers this through personalized cash back offers that feel relevant and easy to use.

Customers link a payment method once and shop as usual at ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, or Fresh Grocer. Rewards are applied automatically based on their entire basket, with no need to manage coupons or change their behavior.

Offers are personalized based on each shopper’s activity. This makes them more compelling than broad-based promotions. For customers who divide their grocery trips across different stores, these offers at the point of purchase provide a strong incentive to consolidate spending at Wakefern banners.

The process feels simple and rewarding, which builds long-term loyalty. It also reinforces Wakefern’s commitment to providing value in ways that support local communities and the cooperative’s long-term goals.

A partnership ready to grow with Wakefern

Successful cooperatives adapt to changing market conditions while staying true to their core mission. Wakefern has done this for nearly 80 years, evolving from a simple buying group to a sophisticated retail cooperative.

Upside represents the next evolution of that adaptability. By partnering with Upside, Wakefern can offer member-owners a proven customer acquisition tool that drives measurable results without operational complexity. Corporate leadership gains a scalable solution that amplifies existing strategies while providing clear performance metrics. And customers receive personalized value that strengthens their connection to Wakefern banners, supporting sustainable growth in today's competitive grocery landscape.

If your team is interested in exploring how this partnership might work for Wakefern's unique structure, our industry experts are ready to discuss the possibilities. Reach out today.