Food and beverage brands face a unique retention challenge: high purchase frequency, varied order values, and seasonal demand swings. The right points program turns one-time buyers into repeat customers who drive the majority of revenue. The average annual activity rate across loyalty programs is 59%—meaning more than half of all loyalty program members have made a purchase in the past year, according to Queue-it research. Yet overall brand loyalty continues to decline. The difference comes down to program design and execution.
This engagement gap presents a clear opportunity for F&B brands. While consumers actively participate in loyalty programs they value, they're increasingly willing to switch brands that don't deliver compelling experiences. The best programs combine seamless technology with genuine value to bridge this gap.
Key Takeaways
- Rivo leads Shopify-native loyalty platforms with modern architecture, month-to-month contracts, and 99.98% API uptime for F&B brands.
- 51% of restaurant customers use loyalty programs, with members spending 33% more on orders than non-members.
- Starbucks Rewards demonstrates mobile-first success with 30.4 million active U.S. members generating 41% of total sales.
- Points programs deliver 2x-5x ROI when properly implemented with clear earning mechanics and fast redemption paths.
- F&B brands should study both Shopify platforms (for implementation) and major QSR programs (for strategy inspiration).
This guide covers loyalty platforms for Shopify food brands and seven exemplary brand programs worth studying. Whether launching a new program or migrating from a legacy provider, these options represent the best approaches to F&B retention in 2025.
1. Rivo — Modern Retention Platform for Shopify Plus
Rivo stands as the first open platform for Shopify loyalty and referrals, built specifically for fast-growing DTC food and beverage brands. The platform processes 2.9 billion API calls annually with 99.98% uptime, ensuring program reliability during high-traffic periods like BFCM.
This level of reliability matters when your loyalty program becomes mission-critical infrastructure. During peak sales events, downtime costs F&B brands thousands in lost revenue per minute. Rivo's architecture handles traffic spikes without degradation, keeping programs accessible when customer engagement peaks.
Best For
Fast-growing Shopify Plus coffee brands, specialty food companies, and beverage DTC brands
Price
Free (up to 200 orders) to $499/month
Key Features
- Theme app extensions loading under 100ms with native Shopify checkout integration
- Month-to-month contracts with no annual lock-in (100% bootstrapped, no VC pressure)
- Developer toolkit with REST API, JavaScript API, and Liquid metafields
- 50+ integrations including Klaviyo, Recharge, Skio, and Shopify Flow
Food brands see measurable results with Rivo. Fresh Chile Co achieved a 156% AOV lift for members using Rivo Memberships. The platform's Rivo Activate feature enables frictionless auto-login from Klaviyo emails, with brands reporting 500-1000% increases in activated accounts.
These activation improvements directly impact program performance. According to Harvard Business Review research, increasing customer retention rates by just 5% increases profits by 25% to 95%. Rivo's activation tools help F&B brands capture this retention value by removing friction from the loyalty experience.
Rivo differentiates from legacy platforms through modern architecture. For 95% of use cases, out-of-the-box tooling handles implementation. For the remaining 5%, the API enables full customization. This approach serves F&B brands needing both simplicity and flexibility.
2. Punchh
Punchh serves enterprise QSR and multi-location restaurant chains, powering loyalty for major brands like Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. The platform handles omnichannel tracking across in-store, mobile, web, and third-party marketplaces.
Best For
Large QSR chains and multi-location restaurant groups
Price
Custom enterprise contracts
Key Features
- Omnichannel loyalty tracking across all customer touchpoints
- Punchh Wallet for single-scan access to offers and rewards
- AI-powered personalization and predictive analytics
- Advanced customer analytics with detailed spending profiles
Punchh suits enterprise restaurant operations but comes with complexity. Reviews note tasks can take up to an hour to complete and report mixed support experiences. DTC food brands on Shopify typically find better fit with platforms like Rivo that offer simpler implementation and dedicated support for the Shopify ecosystem.
3. Starbucks Rewards
Starbucks Rewards sets the benchmark for F&B loyalty with 30.4 million active U.S. members as of Q1 FY2025. The program generates 41% of U.S. sales, demonstrating how mobile-first design drives habitual behavior.
This sales penetration showcases the power of seamless integration. When loyalty becomes invisible—embedded in the ordering and payment flow—it drives consistent revenue without requiring conscious customer effort. The result is sustainable competitive advantage built on daily habits.
Program Mechanics
- Earn 2 Stars per $1 via app or registered card
- Redeem 25-400 Stars for customizations, drinks, or merchandise
- Two-tier system (Green and Gold status)
- Mobile ordering and payment integration
Starbucks holds $1.85 billion in stored value on member accounts and earns $207M annually from breakage (unused Stars that expire). The program shows 13% year-over-year member growth, validating the mobile-first approach.
Key Lesson
Seamless mobile integration drives 6-10x higher visit frequency. F&B brands should prioritize app experience and payment integration. Even brands without dedicated apps can achieve similar results using Rivo's mobile-optimized customer portal and one-click redemption features.
4. Chipotle Rewards
Chipotle Rewards grew to 30+ million members by adding gamification mechanics that keep customers engaged between purchases. The program drove record digital sales during National Burrito Day 2024.
Gamification creates emotional engagement beyond transactional value. According to Deloitte research, customers who feel emotionally connected to brands have a 306% higher lifetime value. Chipotle's achievement system taps into this emotional layer effectively.
Program Mechanics
- Earn 10 points per dollar spent
- "Extras" challenges for bonus points and achievement badges
- Flexible redemption from 250 points (chips) to 1250 points (full meals)
- Charity donation option supporting farming communities
Chief Marketing Officer Chris Brandt notes the Extras feature "gamifies Chipotle Rewards through special challenges" that keep members celebrating achievements with badges.
Key Lesson
Gamification creates engagement beyond transactions. Points programs should include challenges and progress mechanics that reward consistent behavior and create emotional investment.
5. Panera MyPanera
Panera MyPanera takes a different approach with 48 million members earning rewards based on visit frequency rather than spend amount. Over 50% of transactions come from loyalty members, proving the effectiveness of visit-based mechanics for high-frequency F&B brands.
This model addresses a common loyalty program weakness: rewarding only high spenders. Visit-based systems democratize benefits, encouraging frequency regardless of basket size. For coffee shops and quick-service restaurants with varied order values, this approach builds more inclusive customer relationships.
Program Mechanics
- Rewards based on visit count, not dollars spent
- AI-driven "Surprise and Delight" personalization
- Members can gift rewards to friends and family
- Optional unlimited coffee subscription ($14.99/month)
The visit-based model democratizes rewards—small orders and large orders contribute equally toward benefits. This approach works well for F&B brands with varied basket sizes, similar to how Rivo's flexible points rules let brands reward actions beyond purchase value.
Key Lesson
AI personalization and visit-based mechanics create equitable experiences across customer segments. Brands using platforms like Rivo can implement similar visit-based rewards using Shopify Flow integration and custom earning rules.
6. Chick-fil-A One
Chick-fil-A One demonstrates effective tier design with four clear levels: Member, Silver, Red, and Signature. The program maintains among the highest QSR app ratings since launching in 2016.
Program Mechanics
- Tiered earning: 10-13 points per $1 based on status
- Clear progression thresholds: 1K → 4K → 10K annual points
- Higher tiers unlock reward gifting to friends and family
- Tiered birthday rewards escalate with status
The reward gifting feature at higher tiers turns loyal customers into advocates through social amplification. This creates organic acquisition alongside retention, reducing overall customer acquisition costs. According to Forbes research, referred customers have a 37% higher retention rate.
Key Lesson
Clear tier thresholds with social gifting features build community and advocacy. F&B brands can implement similar tiered structures using Rivo's VIP tier functionality combined with referral program integration.
7. Dunkin' Rewards
Dunkin' Rewards targets high-frequency coffee buyers with a "Boosted Status" mechanic. Members who visit 12+ times monthly earn enhanced point rates without permanent tier qualification.
This temporary boost mechanism rewards current behavior rather than historical spending. For daily-purchase categories like coffee, this approach aligns incentives with recent engagement, encouraging consistent habits without requiring customers to maintain annual spend thresholds that may feel unattainable.
Program Mechanics
- Earn 10 points per $1 (standard) or 12 points per $1 (boosted)
- Boosted Status activates at 12+ monthly visits
- 200 points = free drink of any size
- Frequent bonus campaigns and double points days
This approach rewards consistent behavior without requiring customers to meet annual spend thresholds. 47% of restaurant loyalty members use programs several times monthly, making frequency-based rewards highly relevant for coffee and quick-service brands.
Key Lesson
Frequency boosting rewards habitual customers without complex permanent tiering. Shopify F&B brands can replicate this using Rivo's Shopify Flow integration to trigger bonus points for repeat purchases within specific timeframes.
8. McDonald's MyMcDonald's Rewards
McDonald's demonstrates how simplicity scales with 150 million global members since launching in July 2021. The program contributed to $20B+ in digital sales in Q4 2023, proving that straightforward mechanics drive adoption at massive scale.
Simplicity removes cognitive friction from program participation. Research from the National Restaurant Association shows that 70% of consumers prefer simple earning and redemption processes. McDonald's 100:1 ratio makes point values instantly calculable, reducing decision fatigue and encouraging spontaneous redemption.
Program Mechanics
- Earn 100 points per $1 spent (easy mental math)
- Four redemption tiers: 1500, 3000, 4500, 6000 points
- 1500 point welcome bonus for linking payment card
- 16 menu items available for redemption
The 100:1 earning ratio makes point calculations effortless. This simplicity removes friction from the program experience and drives adoption at a massive scale. F&B brands using Rivo can similarly optimize their points ratios for easy mental math.
Key Lesson
Simple mechanics and clear value propositions drive adoption faster than complex systems. When designing your program in Rivo, test point ratios with actual customers to ensure instant comprehension.
9. Subway MVP Rewards
Subway MVP Rewards launched in 2023 after customer feedback drove a complete redesign of the previous MyWay program. The platform now serves 32+ million active users with seamless migration that preserves existing points.
This redesign demonstrates the importance of listening to member feedback. The switch from "tokens" to "Subway Cash" addressed customer confusion about reward value. Seamless migration maintained trust during the transition, preventing the member churn that often accompanies platform changes.
Program Mechanics
- Three-tier system: Pro ($0), Captain ($200), All-Star ($400)
- Switched from tokens to "Subway Cash" for clearer value
- Tiered birthday rewards escalate with status
- Automatic migration without re-registration required
COO Mike Kappitt noted the redesign gives "Subway fans the star treatment" based on their direct feedback.
Key Lesson
Customer-driven redesigns and seamless migrations preserve member relationships during platform transitions. Brands considering migration from legacy providers should prioritize this approach. Rivo's migration tools enable smooth transitions while preserving customer points and tier status.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most effective type of loyalty program for a food and beverage brand?
Points-based programs with clear earning ratios work best for most F&B brands. Programs that earn 10 points per dollar with redemption starting around 100-200 points provide accessible entry points while encouraging repeat purchases. Tiered VIP structures add aspiration for high-value customers. Rivo's flexible points engine supports these mechanics out-of-the-box while allowing customization for unique brand needs.
How can a loyalty program help a new food and beverage brand grow its customer base?
Loyalty programs reduce customer acquisition costs by turning existing customers into advocates. Referral programs integrated with points systems create organic growth—referred customers typically show higher order values than standard customers. New brands should launch with simple points mechanics and add referral incentives within the first 90 days. The combination of retention and acquisition creates compounding growth effects.
Can loyalty points be integrated with in-store purchases for a food and beverage business?
Yes. Platforms like Rivo integrate with Shopify POS for omnichannel programs, while enterprise platforms like Punchh track across in-store, mobile, and web channels. Seamless POS integration ensures customers earn and redeem regardless of purchase channel. This matters for F&B brands operating both ecommerce and physical retail, as it prevents program fragmentation that frustrates customers.
How important is mobile accessibility for a food and beverage loyalty app?
Mobile accessibility drives program success. Starbucks demonstrates this with mobile members showing 6-10x higher visit frequency than non-mobile users. Mobile-first design enables order-ahead, saved favorites, and payment integration—all critical for habitual F&B purchases. Programs without mobile optimization see significantly lower engagement rates. Even without a dedicated app, Rivo's mobile-optimized customer portal delivers responsive experiences that drive engagement.
What kind of ROI can a food and beverage brand expect from a well-implemented loyalty program?
Properly implemented programs deliver 2x-5x ROI through increased purchase frequency, higher order values, and reduced acquisition costs. Rivo reports 52x ROI based on weighted case study medians, with 3.1x repeat purchase rate improvement. The key is measuring program performance through revenue attribution rather than just enrollment numbers. Most brands see positive ROI within 3-6 months of launch.
