Retail Solutions - Co-op opts for PCMS loyalty scheme upgrade

The Co-op has chosen PCMS Group to improve its customer loyalty scheme.

The scheme is the only UK programme to actually return cash to customers.

The system, which runs on an Oracle 9i database, returned£30 million to customers last year.

The primary reason for the new system was the take over of Alldays, which added more than 600 stores to Co-op's portfolio. The new database, which replaces the older Oracle system, allows better targeting of offers based on past buying.

The Co-op Group worked with PCMS Group and Oracle to get the system up and running in four months.