What Mariano's Rewards Is and How to Use It
Mariano's Rewards is a free loyalty program run by Mariano's supermarkets that gives you discounts on groceries when you shop. You sign up with your phone number or email, and the program tracks your purchases automatically at checkout. Every time you buy something, you earn points or get when ready discounts on items the store has marked as rewards deals.
The program works in two ways: some items have a set discount that applies automatically when you scan your loyalty card or phone number at checkout, and other items earn you points that you can redeem later for money off your total bill. You do not have to do anything special to earn the discounts — they happen at the register if you are enrolled.
Mariano's is owned by Kroger, and the rewards program is part of Kroger's larger loyalty system. If you already have a Kroger account from shopping at another Kroger-owned store, you can use the same account at Mariano's.
Key Takeaways
- Mariano's Rewards is free to join and requires only your phone number or email address at signup.
- The program offers both when ready discounts on specific items and points you can redeem for money off your next purchase.
- You must provide your phone number or scan a digital card at checkout to receive the discounts — the store cannot track your purchases without it.
- Mariano's Rewards is the same account system as Kroger, so you can use one login across both stores if you shop at both.
- The program is run by Mariano's and Kroger directly, not by a third-party rewards company.
How to Sign Up for Mariano's Rewards
You can sign up in three ways: online at the Mariano's website, in the Mariano's mobile app, or at a customer service desk inside any Mariano's store. All three routes ask for the same information: your name, phone number or email address, and a password if you are creating an online account.
If you sign up online or in the app, you will get a digital card that appears on your phone. You can show this card to the cashier at checkout, or you can give your phone number and the cashier will look up your account. If you sign up in the store, the customer service desk will issue you a physical card on the spot, though you can also link your phone number to the account later.
There is no cost to join, and you do not have to provide a credit card or banking information. Mariano's only needs enough information to track your purchases and send you personalized offers.
What Discounts and Rewards You Actually Get
Mariano's Rewards offers two types of savings. The first is when ready discounts on specific items — these are usually marked on the shelf or in the store's weekly ad, and the discount applies automatically at checkout when you scan your card. For example, you might see a sign that says "Rewards members save $2 on this cereal" — that $2 comes off your bill without you doing anything except showing your card.
The second type is fuel points or cash rewards, depending on what you buy. When you purchase certain items, you earn points that add up. Once you reach a threshold (usually around 100 to 200 points, though this varies), you can redeem them for a discount on your next purchase or for fuel discounts at Mariano's fuel stations if your store has one.
The specific discounts and rewards change weekly. Mariano's publishes a weekly ad that shows which items have when ready discounts that week, and the app or website shows you personalized offers based on your shopping history. If you buy a lot of one type of product, you may see more rewards on similar items.
How to Check Your Points and Redeem Rewards
You can see your current points balance and available rewards in three places: the Mariano's mobile app, the Mariano's website (if you created an online account), or by asking a cashier at checkout. The app is usually the fastest — it shows your balance in real time and lists all the rewards you have earned but not yet used.
To redeem your points, you do not need to do anything before you shop. When you reach the checkout and scan your card, the cashier can explore your points to that purchase automatically, or you can choose to save them and use them on a future trip. Some rewards are automatic — for example, if you have earned a $5 discount, it may explore to your next may have access to purchase without you asking.
Fuel points work differently. If your Mariano's has a fuel station, you can redeem fuel points at the pump by entering your phone number or scanning your digital card. The discount applies to the price per gallon.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The most common mistake is forgetting to provide your phone number or scan your card at checkout. If you do not give the cashier your account information, the store has no way to know you are a rewards member, and you will not receive any discounts or earn any points. Make it a habit to say your phone number or show your card before the cashier starts ringing up your items.
Another mistake is not checking the weekly ad or app for personalized offers. Mariano's sends different rewards to different customers based on what you usually buy. If you do not look at your offers, you might miss discounts on items you purchase regularly. The app sends notifications when new rewards are available, so turning on notifications can help you stay on top of them.
A third mistake is letting your points expire. Mariano's points do not expire as long as you use your account at least once per year, but if you do not shop for a very long time, the store may close your account. If that happens, you lose any unused points. If you shop at Mariano's even occasionally, this is not a concern.
Privacy and How Mariano's Uses Your Information
When you join Mariano's Rewards, the store collects your name, phone number or email, and a record of everything you buy. Mariano's uses this information to send you personalized offers and to track which products are popular. The company also shares some of this data with Kroger, its parent company, so that both stores can improve their rewards offers.
You can review Mariano's privacy policy on their website to see exactly what data they collect and how they use it. If you do not want to share your purchase history, you can choose not to join the rewards program — you can still shop at Mariano's and pay regular prices without a loyalty card.
Mariano's does not sell your personal information to third-party companies for marketing purposes, though they do use it internally to improve their own offers and services. If you have concerns about how your data is handled, you can contact Mariano's customer service to ask questions or request changes to your account.
Mariano's Rewards vs. Other Supermarket Loyalty Programs
Most large supermarket chains run their own loyalty programs in roughly the same way: you sign up for free, provide your phone number or email, and receive personalized discounts. Mariano's Rewards works the same way as Kroger's loyalty program (because Mariano's is owned by Kroger), so if you already shop at Kroger, you already know how the system works.
The main difference between supermarket programs is which items get discounts and how many points you earn per dollar spent. Mariano's tends to offer deeper discounts on store-brand items and on products that are on sale that week. If you shop primarily at Mariano's, joining the rewards program will save you money compared to paying full price, but the savings are usually modest — typically $5 to $15 per shopping trip depending on what you buy.
If you shop at multiple supermarket chains, it is worth joining the loyalty program at each one, since they are all free and you can use them all simultaneously. There is no penalty for being a member of multiple programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to give my real name to join Mariano's Rewards?
Yes. Mariano's requires a real name and a valid phone number or email address to create an account. The store uses this information to verify your identity and to send you offers. You cannot sign up with a fake name or a temporary phone number.
Can I use someone else's Mariano's Rewards card at checkout?
Technically you can, but Mariano's discounts are tied to the account holder's purchase history. If you use someone else's card, the rewards will go to their account, not yours, and you will not build up your own purchase history for personalized offers. It is better to sign up for your own free account.
What happens to my points if I do not use my account for a long time?
Mariano's does not expire points as long as you use your account at least once per year. If you do not shop at Mariano's for more than a year, the store may close your account and you will lose any unused points. If you shop even occasionally, your account will stay active.
Can I combine my Mariano's Rewards account with my spouse's or family member's account?
No. Each Mariano's Rewards account is individual and tied to one phone number or email address. You cannot merge two accounts or share rewards between accounts. If you want to pool household purchases, you would need to shop using the same phone number, but Mariano's does not allow multiple people to use one account.
Does Mariano's Rewards work at self-checkout?
Yes. At self-checkout, you can scan your digital card on your phone or enter your phone number into the kiosk before you start scanning items. The rewards discounts will explore the same way they do at a regular checkout lane.