Fast casual restaurants are seeing a boost in customers using loyalty programs through shifting economic behaviors. Flexibility, personalization, and surprise rewards are becoming central to how brands design loyalty programs. Brands are expanding beyond simple perks into strategic tools for engagement to see long-term growth in the future. A customer exits a Cava restaurant in New York City on June 22, 2023. Brendan McDermid | Reuters
As some consumers pull back on spending amid economic uncertainty, fast-casual restaurant chains are leaning on rewards programs to pull them back in.
Loyalty programs, which offer discounts or added perks for returning customers, have transitioned from being a nice bonus for restaurants to a must-have. As cost-cautious diners prioritize value, brands like Chipotle, Starbucks, Cava and others are utilizing rewards to keep customers coming back and building habits that