MALVERN, PA — ACME Markets announced the return of its refund rewards program designed to help consumers save money and stretch their grocery budgets

The program, which runs from now to April 15, gives shoppers’ grocery budgets a boost by adding up to an additional 10 percent value on a grocery gift card purchased during tax season.

Under the refund rewards program, customers who purchase a $250 or $300 ACME gift card will get another $20 or $30 added to the card, respectively. The refund rewards gift cards are available at the customer service counter at local ACME stores. Customers can use their tax refunds or any accepted form of payment to purchase the grocery gift cards.

The program comes at a time when shoppers continue to look for ways to trim costs and effectively manage their household budgets. According to the BIGresearch American Pulse Survey from Feb. 4, an overwhelming majority (84.5 percent) of Americans say that the recession is not over. In addition, 60 percent of consumers said they’ll continue looking for deals when the recession ends, and 92 percent indicate that value will continue to be of equal or greater importance in food shopping, according to a September 2009 IBM study.

“We are continuing to look for ways to provide our customers with value,” said Bart Bohlen, ACME senior vice president Sales & Merchandising. “At a time when many shoppers are watching their budgets, we wanted to do something more to help them save. The refund rewards program will help shoppers stock their cupboards and feed their families for less. It’s another way of rewarding and thanking our customers for their business.”

Grocery gift card purchases may not exceed $1,250 per household, not including the bonus amount. Bonus amounts cannot be used for the purchase of alcohol, fuel, tobacco, lottery tickets, dairy products, prescription drugs or additional gift cards.