CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Kroger Company has a new program that's appreciated by customers who like saving money but don't like bothering with coupons.

The Cincinnati-based supermarket chain is part owner of a data mining firm that allows it to take advantage of the reams of information collected by its shopper cards. One way is by mailing shoppers coupons mainly for products they usually buy.

Kroger says as many as half the coupons it sends regular customers do get used. That compares with the 1 percent to 3 percent of paper coupons that consumers redeem, even in the midst of the recession.

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