Restaurant Brands International Now Fully Loyalty-Enabled
Pymnts.com reports that following the June announcement of the launch of Popeyes Rewards, Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of major quick-service restaurant (QSR) chains Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes, now has loyalty programs for all of its brands in their home markets. The company rolled out its Royal Perks Burger King program nationwide during the quarter, while Tim Hortons’ Tims Rewards has been live for years.
“We’re in the early innings with our loyalty programs at Burger King and Popeyes, and we continue to see great progress, which we think will be a big unlock, to help us on our journey towards building a strong and growing digital sales base,” CEO José Cil told analysts on a call. Regarding Royal Perks, he later added, “We continue to prioritize driving program enrollment, as we know that, in addition to providing us with valuable data and insights, loyalty members typically show higher spending and frequency as compared to non-members.”
Bloomin’ Brands Growth Momentum Surpasses Pre-Pandemic Levels
NRN.com says that despite how much the casual-dining industry struggled during the pandemic, Bloomin’ Brands is thriving, with same-store sales surpassing pre-pandemic levels, up 12.1% for the second quarter ended June 27 compared with 2019, and up 84.6% compared to 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to earnings numbers released Friday. Sales volumes also exceeded 2019 levels.
CEO David Deno attributes this sales momentum that has moved beyond recovery from last year to surpass pre-pandemic levels of growth to their multichannel sales mix. Bloomin’ Brands began offering delivery five years ago and put digital marketing efforts into place shortly after that so they were ready to take advantage of the changing industry needs when the pandemic hit.
Foot Locker Acquires WSS
Foot Locker announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Eurostar, Inc. ("WSS"), a U.S.-based athletic footwear and apparel retailer, which primarily operates on the West Coast, for $750 million. The transaction will be funded with the company's available cash.
WSS is an athletic-inspired retailer focused on the large and rapidly growing Hispanic consumer demographic, operating a fleet of 93 off-mall stores in key markets across California, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. WSS's community-driven business benefits from deep relationships with customers – with approximately 80% of its sales coming from customers who are members of its loyalty program.
Uber Partners with FTD's ProFlowers to Deliver Florals On-Demand Nationwide
Uber Technologies announced an exclusive partnership with FTD, LLC, a leader in the floral industry for more than a century, to bring on-demand flower delivery to Uber and Uber Eats customers nationwide. This one-of-a-kind deal marks Uber's first national floral partnership.
Customers in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami and more will be able to order a selection of beautiful floral arrangements through FTD's ProFlower's brand and will utilize the company's national network of local florists, directly from the Uber and Uber Eats app. The offering will continue to roll out to additional cities throughout the year and will be available nationwide by early 2022. Uber Pass and Eats Pass holders will also enjoy 5% off and unlimited $0 Delivery Fee on eligible orders of $15+.*