UK coalition loyalty scheme, Nectar, is launching an Italian version of the programme to millions of Italian consumers, Groupe Aeroplan – loyalty management expert and owner of Nectar in the UK – has announced.

Nectar Italia has been set up to operate the programme and is a joint venture with Oney Banque Accord, a major financial institution with more than 6.2 million clients in Europe. Groupe Aeroplan will have a majority 75 per cent ownership in the new programme with Oney Banque Accord owning the remaining 25 per cent.

The programme is modelled on the Nectar coalition loyalty programme, which has signed up 50 per cent of households in the UK. It will offer collectors the opportunity to gain points at more than 5,000 retail outlets throughout Italy. These points can be redeemed for a wide range of rewards.

The partners in the Italian coalition include:

• Simply Sma stores, the number three grocer in Italy with 275 proprietary stores and 725 franchises branded Punto, Simply, Ipersimply, Sma, Cityper
• Auchan Hypermarkets with 50 stores nationwide
• Api Ip, one of the largest networks of fuel stations in Italy with 4,200 stations
• So Oney which will launch the Nectar Italia co-branded credit card alongside its existing credit and charge cards
• UniEuro, electronics and electrical goods retailer with 97 direct stores and 70 franchises
• PC City, the IT specialists operating as a sister brand to UniEuro
• Hertz, Car Rental company with 230 agencies in Italy

Further to these partners, Italians will be able to collect and redeem points with online retailers and through Nectar’s own credit card. It is anticipated that more partners will join the Nectar Italia programme in the future.

Gerard Whelan, managing director of Nectar Italia, said: "Millions of Italian consumers will soon be able to benefit from collecting and redeeming points through Nectar, not just when they’re shopping for groceries but when they’re filling up with petrol, buying electrical goods and even buying financial services products.

"Having so many well-known names signed up to the scheme is testament to the effectiveness of Nectar’s coalition model in the UK which we are replicating in Italy. As one of the world’s largest economies with 58 million consumers, the Italian market presents significant opportunities for further growth of the programme which we are looking forward to exploring."

David Johnston, CEO of Groupe Aeroplan Europe, said: "The launch of Nectar Italia is a natural next step for Groupe Aeroplan building on the Nectar programme’s success in the UK. All the companies participating in the launch have understood the value of the coalition model which has worked so well in the UK, both for rewarding customers and helping retailers better understand their customers’ needs."