Hut Rewards from Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut, the famous pizza hut chain founded in 1958 in Kansas, has quickly become one of the most famous franchise brands in the US. Since 2014, they have had a stable revenue of about 12 billion USD per year.
In 2017, realizing that the market is like a small family-sized pizza where everyone wants to get even the smallest slice, the company launched the “Hut Rewards - Hut Rewards” program with rewards of free pies to increase the frequency of visits and customer loyalty to the Pizza Hut brand.
“Hut Rewards allows customers to earn unlimited points, which can lead to rewards like a free pizza with just one order, which is why we believe it is the best loyalty program on the market right now,” said Jeff Fox, Chief Brand and Concept Officer at Pizza Hut.
The program is designed to be incredibly simple to get people to play. New customers can join by visiting Pizza Hut.com, clicking on the Hut Rewards loyalty program to create an account and enroll in the program. Existing customers can simply log in to their account and opt in to the Hut Rewards program.
Once signed up, users can start earning points and enjoying the benefits of the program immediately. Every dollar spent on online ordering earns points that can be redeemed for a free pizza. In addition, they can enjoy additional benefits including exclusive offers, birthday rewards, and more. The points program is only available to customers who order online.
For every dollar spent, customers will receive 2 points. Meanwhile, the average number of points to redeem for a medium pizza is about 200, equivalent to a free pizza for every $100 spent.
Subway MyWay™ Rewards - Subway and its "My Way" program
Subway, the famous sandwich restaurant founded in 1965 with annual sales of over $16.1 billion, is next on the list with their unique loyalty program.
The Subway MyWay™ program was launched in 2018 to replace the old SubCard loyalty program and was designed to provide personalized discounts to the brand’s customers. With 28,000 participating restaurants, MyWay™ is one of the largest loyalty programs in the world.
“The key to the success of the campaign was the personalization, as SubWay conducted a survey of all of its customers to hear what rewards they wanted and used their feedback to design the program,” said Carissa Ganelli, Chief Digital Officer, Subway.
Specifically, for every dollar spent, customers earn four tokens, and every 200 tokens can be redeemed for a $2 voucher. In addition, they have the chance to win random rewards such as sandwiches, cookies, and drinks, as well as receive a special gift on each birthday. All points are integrated into the Subway app on the phone.
3. Chick-fil-A One®
Chick-fil-A is one of the largest fast food chains in the United States specializing in chicken sandwiches, founded in 1946 in Hapeville, GA. In 2021, the net worth of their CEO Dan Cathy is estimated to be $7.1 billion.
To show appreciation to its customers, the restaurant launched a loyalty program in 2016 called Chick-fil-A One®. This is a web-based program that establishes a tier system for customers.
The higher the tier, the more points customers receive for every dollar they spend. The tiers include:
- Chick-fil-A One Member: entry-level status
- Chick-fil-A One Silver Status: achieved by earning 1,000 points in a year
- Chick-fil-A One Red Status: achieved by earning 4,000 points in a year
Customers will earn points when shopping online or by ordering on the phone, then scanning the program's QR code. The number of points accumulated according to the following rank:
- One member: 1 point
- One Silver: 11 points
- One Red: 12 points
- One Signature: 13 points
In addition to using points to redeem rewards, members of the One program also receive a special gift on their birthday. In addition, customers can also give points to relatives and friends.
4. Starbucks Rewards
Famous for its luxurious check-in photos, Starbucks is one of the most favorite coffee brands in the world with more than 30,000 stores in 80 countries, half of which are in the US. In 2021, their revenue reached an impressive 29 billion USD.
And, of course, Starbucks also needs to develop loyalty programs to increase customer loyalty. With 24.2 million members in the US alone, it is one of the most successful Loyalty Programs in history. To achieve this, the coffee giant spends a whopping 40% of its profits on rewards for the program and saw 7% growth in its first year of launch.
Starbucks Rewards is not only available via smartphone, but also provides customers with a prepaid card that can be used to pay for items from the Starbucks menu. Customers using the Starbucks® Rewards Visa® Card will earn loyalty points faster than paying with a traditional bank card.
In addition to using it to buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks, customers can use this card to pay for things everywhere - at the grocery store, shopping for new clothes or on vacation. For every dollar spent with the Starbucks® Rewards Visa® Card, customers will receive 1 Star, and they can redeem for as little as 25 Stars.
Starbucks’ loyalty program is divided into two tiers: Green and Gold. Green is reserved for those with a star/point score of 1 to 199; while Gold is for anyone with more than 200 stars.
Some of the features and benefits that customers gain through the program for both Green and Gold tiers:
- Free drinks and food
- Skip-the-line ordering and payment via mobile app
- Free refills of pre-brewed coffee and tea
- Special rewards on your birthday each year
- Extra stars on a special day (Reward Day)
Some ways for customers to “earn stars” to redeem for free items:
- Earn 2 stars for every dollar spent when purchasing at a Starbucks location using a registered Starbucks gift card or the Starbucks mobile app.
- Earn stars when you buy Starbucks branded products like packaged coffee, cups, ready-to-drink drinks and bread.
- Buy Starbucks branded coffee online and link your purchases to your Starbucks rewards account.
- Participate in games and special offers delivered to your app and personal email
5. MyMcDonald’s Rewards
Guess who the king of fast food is!? With 69 million daily visitors, it’s been humorously said that wherever there are people, there’s McDonald’s. And, of course, the Mc’s loyalty program has also created a big hit in the fast food market.
In 2021, MyMcDonald's Rewards surpassed 20 million users. The famous McChicken sandwich is the most redeemed reward. In addition, customers have been rewarded with 360 tons of fries and 17 million desserts. The numbers are staggering. So what makes the program so popular!?
For every $1 spent on McDonald's products, customers will earn 100 loyalty points that can be redeemed for free meals. The more points a user has, the higher their loyalty level, which can be redeemed for more valuable rewards.
The program is divided into four tiers based on points: 1500, 3000, 4500 and 6000 with different rewards from 16 menus.
There are also other ways that customers can earn points. For example, if a customer links their credit or debit card to the McDonald's mobile app, they will automatically receive 1,500 bonus points. This means that if they decide to pay via the app, they will receive a free McChicken or a Cheeseburger.
From this McDonald's program, it is easy to see that the success of a loyalty program depends a lot on simplicity and variety of rewards.
6. Wendy's Rewards™
For a great hamburger, fast food fans often turn to Wendy's. The international brand is currently headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, USA, although it originated in Columbus, OH.
Wendy's founder, Dave Thomas, is also known for having more commercials than any other company founder in history. At the time of his death, Thomas' net worth was approximately $4.2 billion.
Nearly 20 years after the death of the brand’s “father,” Wendy’s launched a loyalty program called Wendy’s Rewards™. It works on the same principles as the programs Ori mentioned earlier — for every dollar spent on the company’s food, consumers earn 10 points that can be redeemed for various menu items. The convenience here is that the rewards are small and can be used immediately, such as ordering a free mini ice cream cone with their meal.
To earn points, users can pay via the Wendy’s app or scan a QR code at the counter. If they forget their phone, they can simply scan the code attached to their receipt to ensure they receive their points.
These points can then be redeemed for free meals and special offers at Wendy’s. The list of rewards is constantly changing to keep things fresh for customers. Wendy’s also occasionally sends users surprise deals and rewards within the app, such as coupons for discounts or side dishes.
7. Chipotle Rewards
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is one of the “youngest” fast food chains on this list. The brand was only founded in 1993 by Steve Elis and in just over 20 years they have climbed to the top of the industry with $7.5 billion in revenue (2021), nearly 3,000 locations, and nearly 100,000 employees.
In 2019, they launched a loyalty program called Chipotle Rewards, which offers 10 points for every dollar spent at the restaurant. When it first launched, customers had to accumulate 1,250 points to get a free meal, which was equivalent to $125 in food at Chipotle.
After announcing $2 billion in growth thanks to the old Chipotle Rewards mechanism, the brand launched new “special challenges” to help customers earn points faster through new, cheaper milestones.
Specifically, instead of having to wait for 1,250 points for a free meal, customers can get an order of tortillas for just 250 points, a side of guacamole for 400 points, and a bottled soda for 600 points.
In addition to a wider variety of rewards, the new loyalty program also gives customers the opportunity to use their points for worthy causes, such as supporting nonprofits that help farmers, struggling communities, local businesses, and more.
To promote their updated loyalty program, Chipotle launched the “Race to Reward Exchange” online game, which is available to all Chipotle Rewards members. Players can earn points as they play and then redeem them for food and additional rewards.
These changes have led to a rapid increase in Chipotle’s loyalty program membership, reaching 24 million members in 2021, making it one of the fastest growing programs in the US.
8. DD Perks® Program from Dunkin Donuts
Dunkin’ Donuts is an American-based coffee and donut company that is now present in 36 countries worldwide.
Realizing early on that implementing loyalty programs was a key factor in retaining future customers, the brand decided to launch a promotion called DD Perks.
Using the same scoring method as the restaurants above, for every dollar spent at Dunkin’ Donuts, users will receive 5 points to redeem for food and drinks on the menu.
In addition, if customers make at least three purchases in a week, they will be eligible for a free drink. To keep the program fresh, Dunkin’ Donuts regularly runs different campaigns, offering additional perks like free donuts with any beverage purchase, free coffee with any food purchase, or extra points.
The brand also tried to “recreate” the success of Starbucks when it partnered with Masterpass to provide customers with postpaid cards that can be used to pay at Dunkin’ Donuts and other restaurants participating in the DD Perks® program.
Thanks to the fresh and frequently changing offers, DD Perks® helped the Dunkin’ Donuts mobile app surpass 12 million downloads in 2021.
9. MyPanera Rewards Program
Another example of the success that a good loyalty program can bring to a business is the case of MyPanera Rewards from the Panera Bread Company brand.
Panera Bread was once America’s favorite place to get free Wi-Fi. Today, they have expanded to over 2,000 locations in the United States and Canada with an estimated $5.3 billion in revenue.
MyPanera Rewards is one of the oldest loyalty programs on this list, having started in 2010, before they had a mobile app. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the loyalty program grew to 40 million members. Today, over 50% of daily purchases come from members of the program.
The personalization that MyPanera Rewards offers is unique. After a long period of selection, customers will receive better deals on their favorite products, from free bagels to savings on salads and sandwiches. Additionally, customers will also receive a surprise birthday gift tailored to their preferences, in addition to access to Panera Bread's unlimited coffee plan.
Unlike many of its competitors, MyPanera Rewards rewards customers based on their visits to stores or free rewards and offers within the app. The ability to share your points with friends and family also makes the program more popular.
10. Costa Club from Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee is a British coffee brand. Founded in 1971, the brand now has nearly 4,000 locations and more than 6,000 Costa Express vending machines worldwide. In 2019, it was sold to the Coca-Cola Company for nearly £4 billion.
Similar to competitors such as Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and other coffee shops, Costa also has a very effective loyalty program. The program is operated through a mobile app, combined with a punched thank you card that customers can use to accumulate points.
The rewards structure is simple. Members earn a free drink for every 8 drinks purchased. Costa Club also offers a free birthday cake and a number of exclusive rewards available via the mobile app. In addition, Costa Club members also benefit from personalised offers based on their purchase history, as well as a range of ways to earn bonus points throughout the year.
11. Drink Monday
Tapping into the alternative to alcohol, Monday is a non-alcoholic whisky, gin and mezcal brand for anyone looking to enjoy a non-alcoholic cocktail. With a name that many wine lovers will be ‘scared’ by, the brand aims to change the narrative around drinking to something people can enjoy without the pressure.
“If you love cocktails and hate hangovers, we’re your first-class ticket to flavor town,” says co-founder Chris Boyd. “Monday is one of the pioneers of the non-alcoholic beverage category for today’s youth and is working hard every day to support those looking for healthier beverage options.”
Monday has leveraged its loyalty program by creating a brand community that participates in its program. Drink Monday rewards customers with points for social media engagement in addition to spending. This reward gives customers an incentive to continue shopping with Monday.
Members can earn 2 points for every $1 spent, which can be redeemed for souvenirs or non-alcoholic beverages from the Monday brand.
A very special feature of the Monday loyalty program is its referral incentives. Referred customers are awarded a $10 voucher while referrers are awarded the same.
Each referral creates a potential new customer, while also showing that existing customers trust and love the product. This is extremely important for a small, growing food and beverage business like Monday. With a continuous cycle of engagement and sharing tied to the brand experience, Monday's loyalty program has helped Monday soar in sales, brand awareness, and customer base.
12. Partake Foods
Partake Foods is a vegan and gluten-free food brand that produces cookies, snacks, and baking mixes that are free of the top nine allergens. Partake Foods is a great example of how a F&B brand should implement a loyalty program.
In addition to offering rewards for purchases, users also earn points for signing up for newsletters, birthday gifts, and leaving product reviews. These incentives provide multiple ways for first-time customers to build up enough points to make them want to come back for more.
The second area where Partake Foods excels is the rewards they offer their customers. Each dollar spent is worth one point, and rewards members can redeem $5, $20, and $35 toward their next purchase, depending on how many points they have. Partake Foods also incentivizes referrals by offering a $2 discount to both the person being referred and the person making the referral. Encouraging shoppers to share the brand with their personal connections creates more conversation around the product, while also providing potential customers with the benefits and value the brand is providing to its users.
In this way, Partake Foods creates a community that “establishes” trust in new customers by providing proof in the form of reviews of how much previous customers love the product. With real-world rewards, Partake Foods ensures that this cycle continues to bring new members into their program.
