Loyalty360 Reads: September 14 | PetSmart Announces Partnership with DoorDash, Panera is offering a month of free coffee and Wi-Fi, Papa John’s Announces Development Deal, and More

PetSmart Announces Partnership with DoorDash to Offer Same-Day Delivery
PetSmart will offer on-demand delivery service across more than 1,400 of its store locations nationwide through DoorDash. Shoppers can place their orders for same-day delivery on PetSmart.com now and via the PetSmart mobile app later this week.

"We understand that our customers need many different shopping options during this time, so ensuring they can make those purchases however they need is important to us," says Will Smith, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of PetSmart. "We're pleased to partner with DoorDash, together providing pet parents with an even more accessible shopping experience."
 
Panera is offering a month of free coffee and Wi-Fi to new coffee subscribers
Panera is helping consumers power through tough times, as starting September 10 the first 2,020 people who sign up for the MyPanera+ Coffee Subscription will not only receive a free month of coffee, but Panera will also cover the cost of their WiFi for the month.

As one of the first restaurants to offer free Wi-Fi, Panera has now extended its Wi-Fi radius beyond the bakery-cafe doors, so people can pick up coffee for Curbside pick-up and catch the break that parents so desperately need.

"Kids are going back to school in-person and virtually across the country, and once again parents are taking on more work and stress than ever before," says Eduardo Luz, Chief Brand and Concept Officer for Panera Bread. "Panera's free, unlimited, premium coffee can help get you through the day, and the added bonus of Panera's Wi-Fi enabled parking lots and Curbside pick-up can give you a few minutes to recharge and a quick meal solution. "
 
Papa John’s Announces Significant Development Deal
Papa John’s International announced the signing of its largest traditional store development agreement in North America in over 20 years, accelerating growth of the Papa John’s brand in the Philadelphia area.

Under the agreement, HB Restaurant Group, which currently owns 43 restaurants in the Mid-Atlantic area and has been a Papa John’s franchisee since April 2019, is to open 49 new stores in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey between 2021 and 2028.

“Papa John’s has long offered franchise investors one of the fastest paybacks in our industry. Recent record sales have driven further gains in store profitability. Combined with our resilient e-commerce and delivery model, a transforming brand and significant whitespace, Papa John’s today offers franchise investors a truly compelling opportunity,” says Papa John’s Chief Development Officer Amanda Clark. “We’re excited to grow our partnership with HB Restaurant Group, already an important member of the Papa John’s family, as we accelerate our development activities at this unique moment for the brand.”
 
IHG Hotels & Resorts Deepens Commitment to Advancing Equality
IHG Hotels & Resorts announced further updates in its efforts to advance equality for all,through key partnerships and programs with the National Urban League, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and Jobs for America's Graduates.

"The hospitality that we offer to our guests, colleagues and communities is fundamentally underpinned by a culture of respect and inclusion for all people,” says Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, Americas, IHG. “We recognize and embrace the role that we can play in standing for justice and opportunity, and are honored to support the important work of these organizations. Through these efforts, we will extend the culture we have created at IHG - one where everyone can feel welcome, included and safe - into our communities."

In Supporting Career Pathways for Young Adults, IHG's contributions will be directed toward expansion of the UAJP program in two specific markets - Atlanta and Chicago - and will support young adults. In addition to the sponsorship support of these efforts, IHG colleagues will support National Urban League affiliates though volunteer activities such as mock interviews and resume review.
 
Customer Engagement Platform Astute Acquires Socialbakers
Astute, a leading customer engagement and voice of the customer (“VoC”) platform, has acquired Socialbakers a.s., a unified social media marketing platform. The acquisition will allow global brands to manage research, content, engagement, social listening and VoC in a single software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) platform.

Socialbakers’ AI-powered social media marketing platform is used by more than 2,500 enterprise and mid-market brands around the world. The platform enables brands to reach and engage with audiences across social media channels via one unified platform. With consumers spending increasingly more time discovering content, engaging with brands, and purchasing products online, social media has become the primary channel for brands to deliver exceptional customer experience, from the first touchpoint to post-purchase care.

“The lines between customer care, customer experience, and marketing have become increasingly blurred, presenting real challenges for companies,” says Mark Zablan, CEO of Astute. “Combining the market-leading social media marketing capabilities of Socialbakers with Astute’s engagement suite not only helps our customers tackle this challenge more effectively, but also marks a major milestone along Astute’s journey towards becoming the end-to-end customer engagement platform that the Chief Customer Officer needs to succeed.”
 

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