SAINSBURY'S has added Air Miles to the lure of its cut-price fuel in a move designed to poach customers from its main rival, Tesco. The company's marketing director, Kevin McCarten, predicted that the £15 million promotion - which involves a link up with British Airways, would boost the store's turnover by 3%.

Shoppers can get a Reward Card which will collect one point for every £1 they spend - either in the store or at the pumps. 250 points will be worth £2.50 in cash or 40 Air Miles. Sainsbury's claimed that anyone buying £60 worth of fuel a week could build up enough Air Miles in a year for a return trip to Paris.

Until this move, Shell UK was the only petrol company to offer Air Miles. The company welcomed the scheme on the grounds that it would now be easier for Shell customers to build up an Air Miles collection.