DALLAS, Jan. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance Data
Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading provider of loyalty and
marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, announced
that its Canadian coalition loyalty business has signed a
multi-year contract renewal with Sobeys Inc. Under terms of
the renewal, Sobeys Inc.'s retail brands – including Sobeys,
Foodland and Lawtons Drugs in Atlantic
Canada as well as IGA, IGA Extra, Les Marches Tradition and
Rachelle-Bery stores in the province of Quebec – will all continue as participating
sponsors in the Canadian AIR MILES® Reward Program. Sobeys
Inc. is wholly-owned by Empire Company Limited (TSX: EMP.A), which
posted revenue of CDN$15.5 billion in
fiscal 2010.
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A coalition program top-five sponsor, Sobeys, which owns or
franchises more than 1,300 retail grocery stores located in every
province of Canada, as well as
Lawtons Drugs, first joined the AIR MILES Reward Program starting
in 1999 with Sobeys' IGA-branded locations in Quebec. Over the years, many of Sobeys'
grocery and drug store brands across Quebec and Atlantic
Canada's provinces have joined the AIR MILES Reward Program
as sponsors including Lawtons Drug Stores which joined as a sponsor
in 2004 and Foodland in 2009.
Atlantic Canada's four
provinces and Quebec represent
approximately 30 percent of Canada's population.
The AIR MILES Reward Program is Canada's premier coalition loyalty program,
with approximately two-thirds of Canadian households actively
collecting reward miles. AIR MILES collectors earn reward
miles at more than 100 leading brand-name sponsors representing
thousands of retail and service locations across Canada. AIR MILES reward miles can be
redeemed for more than 1,200 different rewards, such as travel,
movie passes, entertainment attractions, and electronic
merchandise.
"Sobeys, through its grocery and drugstore brands in
Atlantic Canada and Quebec, represents both a strategic partner in
the coalition and a growth-focused issuance anchor in these
regions," said Bryan Pearson,
president of LoyaltyOne. "Working collaboratively with Sobeys, we
are able to turn customer insight into action, specifically
creating customer-centered offers that lead to increased basket
size, repeat purchasing and increased issuance for Sobeys and its
other brands. We're proud of the relationship we've
cultivated and are excited to renew this long-term partnership,
which is indicative of the importance this program is to Sobeys'
broader loyalty and marketing strategy."
About Sobeys Inc.
Sobeys Inc. is a leading national grocery retailer and food
distributor headquartered in Stellarton,
Nova Scotia. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire Company
Limited (TSX: EMP.A), Sobeys owns or franchises more than 1,300
stores in all 10 provinces under retail banners that include
Sobeys, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Price Chopper and Thrifty Foods, as
well as Lawtons Drug Stores. Sobeys Inc. is committed to providing
the most worthwhile experience for its customers, employees,
franchisees, suppliers and shareholders. More information on Sobeys
Inc. can be found at www.sobeyscorporate.com.
About Alliance Data
Alliance Data® (NYSE: ADS) and its combined businesses is
North America's largest and most
comprehensive provider of transaction-based, data-driven marketing
and loyalty solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The
Company creates and deploys customized solutions, enhancing the
critical customer marketing experience; the result is measurably
changing consumer behavior while driving business growth and
profitability for some of today's most recognizable brands.
Alliance Data helps its clients create and increase customer
loyalty through solutions that engage millions of customers each
day across multiple touch points using traditional, digital, mobile
and other emerging technologies. Headquartered in
Dallas, Alliance Data employs
approximately 7,400 associates at 50 locations worldwide.
Alliance Data is a leading provider of marketing-driven credit
solutions, and is the parent company of Epsilon®, a leading
provider of multi-channel, data-driven technologies and marketing
services, and LoyaltyOne®, which owns and operates the AIR MILES®
Reward Program, Canada's premier
coalition loyalty program. For more information about the
company, visit our web site, www.AllianceData.com, or you can
follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/AllianceData.
Alliance Data's Safe Harbor Statement/Forward Looking
Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. Such statements may use words such as
"anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "predict,"
"project" and similar expressions as they relate to us or our
management. When we make forward-looking statements, we are basing
them on our management's beliefs and assumptions, using information
currently available to us. Although we believe that the
expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, these forward-looking statements are subject to risks,
uncertainties and assumptions, including the anticipated effects of
the CARD Act and those discussed in our filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties
materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what we
projected. Any forward-looking statements contained in this
presentation reflect our current views with respect to future
events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and
assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations,
growth strategy and liquidity. We have no intention, and disclaim
any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future results or
otherwise.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this presentation regarding
Alliance Data Systems Corporation's business which are not
historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve
risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from
those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk
Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most
recently ended fiscal year. Risk factors may be updated in
Item 1A in each of the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q for each quarterly period subsequent to the Company's most
recent Form 10-K.
SOURCE Alliance Data Systems Corporation