Swiftly Program Enables Circle K and its Brand Partners
Retail technology platform Swiftly has partnered with Circle K, a mobility platform, to make it easier for alcohol buyers to get cash back rebates, eliminating the friction and time waste involved in traditional mail-in ones.
Swiftly’s Alcohol Cashback platform works with a Circle K app that enables targeted, real-time promotions by product, category, and geography. Brands can influence purchase decisions at point-of-sale with in-store signage and digital displays, thus delivering measurable ROI at scale: Swiftly enables Circle K to localize alcohol promotions across its 4,300-store footprint.
Because alcohol is involved, Swiftly’s platform automates the complexities of state-by-state rebate compliance and streamlines the offer submission process for alcohol suppliers. Subsequently, Circle K can activate new campaigns quickly and also be compliance-aligned.
Emma Versaw, Head of Beverage Alcohol at Swiftly, sat down with StreetFight to discuss the program in more detail.
Are there specific geographic patterns in consumer redemption behavior or product preferences shown in this program?
Definitely. Beer consistently drives the highest redemption rates, especially in the convenience channel, where fast trips and immediate consumption dominate. Geographic patterns generally mirror product distribution, with brands and retailers tailoring which products are promoted in specific regions to match local preferences and supply.
With Swiftly’s backend providing regional analytics, how are Circle K and its brand partners using that data to optimize campaigns in real time, per store or region?
Swiftly’s analytics platform enables Circle K and its brand partners to see exactly how promotions are impacting product sales, which helps guide future campaign planning. Brands can identify which offers are driving lift in specific regions, adjust spending or creative mid-flight, and even refine distribution strategies to focus on high-performing areas.
In what ways does the program allow alcohol brands to tailor their offers based on regional or even neighborhood-level shopping behavior?
In general, alcohol brands typically tailor their promotions at a state-by-state level to maintain consistency with state laws. Non-alcohol brands are much more likely to tailor their promotions on Swiftly’s platform on a store-by-store basis to reflect hyper-local factors.
What role does the in-store signage and location-based digital display play in reinforcing the in-app offers for local audiences?
Convenience retail is largely impulse-driven, so reinforcing in-app offers with high-visibility in-store signage is critical. These displays bring the offer directly to shoppers at the shelf, often prompting action in the moment through an easy QR scan. This synergy between physical and digital touchpoints is a key reason why the cashback program performs so well in this environment.
How does this cashback platform serve as a local retail media channel and how is it different from national campaigns or third-party platforms?
Unlike broad national campaigns or third-party cashback platforms, this program is fully integrated into Circle K’s loyalty program, Inner Circle, and is designed to reach Circle K shoppers directly. Shoppers can see and redeem offers right from their Circle K app. This localized approach ensures offers are hyper-relevant to Circle K customers, strengthening both shopper engagement and brand performance within the retailer’s ecosystem.
We collaborate closely with Circle K and brand partners to align promotions with Circle K’s monthly sales planner. This coordinated timing ensures a unified message across channels and often ties into seasonal or category-focused events, driving higher conversion rates and maximizing the impact of the cashback solution.
Given that Circle K’s mobile app audience varies by market, how do you personalize the cashback offers to reflect local inventory, pricing, or brand availability? Is that even possible?
At this stage, offers are localized at the state level. This approach aligns with regulatory requirements and matches brand distribution, ensuring that shoppers see relevant offers based on what’s actually available in their area.
How do you envision Swiftly’s rebate and media tech evolving to support broader local marketing use cases beyond alcohol, such as foodservice, seasonal promotions, or localized loyalty initiatives?
Swiftly’s platform enables brands far beyond alcohol to reach consumers with tailored messaging and sophisticated offers. Brands have used Swiftly’s platform to offer holiday promotions. For example, discounts on bundles like flowers and Champagne), multi-trip offers such as chips, soda, and an energy drink in the month of August and receive $5 off a future trip. Store-specific offers [are available with] discounts or coupons when a product is being sampled in a store.
Lean more about the evolution on the C-store at Street Fight LIVE 2025, September 30th in Los Angeles. Register today!
