SunTrip

CINCINNATI – A Dallas area company charges that Kroger Co. is ripping off its technology and methods in the grocery chain's popular gasoline discount rewards program.

Irving, Texas-based Excentus Corp. has filed federal suit in Texas against Cincinnati-based Kroger, saying its patents are being violated and seeking an order stopping Kroger and for unspecified damages. Kroger filed its own lawsuit, asking a federal court in Cincinnati to declare it has done nothing wrong.

Excentus has the "Fuelperks" gas discount system and developed programs with several Kroger rivals, including Minneapolis-based Supervalu Inc. and Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle.

Kroger says it developed its own ways of linking loyalty card data to its gas pumps.