Outback's parent to introduce cross-brand loyalty program

outback steakhouse exterior

Bloomin' Brands, the parent company of Outback, Carrabba’s, Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s, says it plans to introduce a loyalty program in July that will reward consumers for visiting any of the chains.

“The concept is simple,” Liz Smith, CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, told financial analysts yesterday. “After three visits to any of our brands, customers earn up to 50 percent off their next visit.”

The Dine Rewards program should lift sales by 1 to 2 percent, Smith said, citing the results of tests in six markets.

Smith said the program has been in test since 2013.

“You really have to understand how it works and what incremental traffic it's driving,” Smith said.

The extensive testing has confirmed that the program delivers incremental sales, she indicated.

Smith said the initiative is part of Bloomin's strategy to boost comparable-store sales. All four of the company's casual-dining chains posted declines in domestic same-store sales for the fourth quarter of 2015.
 

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Emerging Brands

How Mr. Pickle's is playing the value game with sandwich sizes

The California-born chain known for Dutch Crunch rolls is borrowing a page from Goldilocks and rolling out a mid-sized sandwich that gives guests a more-profitable reason to visit.

Financing

Two companies learn the hard way that running restaurants is difficult

The Bottom Line: Red Lobster and Topgolf were both acquired by companies outside the restaurant industry. Those companies have learned just how competitive the business is.

Financing

Restaurant buyers have little interest in actual restaurants

The Bottom Line: There is a clear line in what restaurant chain buyers want right now. They want franchisors, not the restaurants themselves.

Trending

More from our partners