Double Coupons to End Soon at All Orange County Vons Stores

By Nancy Luna, The Orange County Register, Calif.

Apr. 1–After scrapping double coupons at more than 100 stores in parts of Orange and San Diego counties earlier this year, Vons now plans to eliminate the program at its remaining Southern California supermarkets.

As of April 19, 314 Vons and Pavilions — including 18 in north Orange County — will no longer accept double coupons. The local stores join 16 others in the county that stopped the program earlier this year.

Vons officials cited low coupon use as the main reason for getting rid of double coupons at 180 stores in mid-February.

That decision allowed Vons to focus on offering more club-card deals and other rewards such as the “10 for $10″ product promotion, said spokeswoman Sandra Calderon.

“Because we are no longer doubling coupons, we are able to negotiate more aggressive VonsClub promotions on thousands of manufacturer items every week,” she said.

To continue those promotions at other stores, Vons opted to eliminate double coupons at every Southern California store, she said.

For avid coupon clippers, that leaves Ralphs as the only local supermarket offering the savings program. However, Ralphs has cut back on some of its perks, too.

In March, the chain said it would allow shoppers to use only one double coupon per like item.

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