Leaders in Customer Loyalty, Powered by Loyalty360

Send us a textFounded in 1957 in Salisbury, N.C., Food Lion has spent over six decades delivering fresh and affordable products to its customers. With over 82,000 Food Lion associates serving more than 10M customers each week, the brand’s 1,108 store locations span a 10-state operating footprint in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S.  A part of the Ahold Delhaize USA family of brands and supported by partners at Peapod Digital Labs, Food Lion prioritizes listening to customers in order to deliver fully on its brand strategy while celebrating its “Count On Me” company culture. All efforts are designed to improve Food Lion customers’ emotional connection to the brand. The company also places an emphasis on serving local towns and cities through Food Lion Feeds and its partnerships with community food banks, working to alleviate hunger as part of the brand’s commitment to corporate social responsibility efforts. The brand’s current goal is to provide 1.5B meals to individuals and families experiencing hunger by the end of 2025. Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Neil Norman, Director of Loyalty & CPG Marketing Partnerships at Food Lion, about its dynamic MVP Program, the brand’s “Count On Me” culture, and keeping efforts focused on the customer experience.

Send us a textOriginally established in 2015 to provide soccer fans with a way to stream matches, today, Fubo is a direct-to-consumer live TV streaming service enjoyed by 1.48M paid subscribers in North America. Growing through strategic acquisitions, the service has expanded its scope of programming to encompass additional sports, news, and entertainment content, operating in the U.S., Canada, and Spain, as well as in France as Molotov. While the company still sees itself as a sports-first service, a wide portfolio of content has been designed to keep consumers engaged.Fubo completed its initial public offering as a New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Company in October 2020. In fall 2023, Fubo announced a partnership with TiiCKER, a software platform that engages, verifies, and rewards retail shareholders.Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Alison Sternberg, SVP, Investor Relations at Fubo, about building brand love, rewarding platform users and investors, and the Share Perks program created through a partnership formed with TiiCKER.Read the article here: https://loyalty360.org/content-gallery/in-depth-exclusives/fubo-building-brand-love-by-rewarding-consumers-and-investors

Send us a textDiscover the future of grocery shopping with Vince Torelli, the customer strategy maestro at Duhumbi, as we unravel the secrets behind what really drives your choice of where to buy your groceries. Vince, with his rich blend of international experience and genuine zest for food and strategy, brings us an insider's look at how Duhumbi weaves personalization and customer loyalty into the very fabric of their retail solutions. We dig into the pivotal role of customer data, and how it's shaping grocery shopping experiences to cater to individual needs, from your budget considerations to your taste for local flavors.Join our heartfelt journey that goes beyond the aisles and checkout lines, touching upon the ethos of gratitude that guides my life, influenced by my family's Italian heritage. Vince shares his personal narrative too, contributing to our rich tapestry of insights. We cover everything from HEB's community-focused strategies to Amazon's digital personalization prowess, illustrating how building a genuine connection with customers can lead to unwavering loyalty. Whether you're in the retail industry, a foodie, or just curious about the evolution of shopping, this episode is packed with industry expertise and personal stories that will enrich your understanding of the power of personalization in retail.

Send us a textLoyalty360 interviews Sam Panzer, Talon.One, to discuss the trends in customer loyalty and customer experience, and the changing industry landscape.

Send us a textPartners Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck opened Pete’s Super Submarines in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1965 after 17-year-old DeLuca asked the nuclear physicist (Buck) for advice on paying college tuition. With a $1,000 investment from Buck, the two were poised to change the quick service restaurant (QSR) landscape with fresh and affordable made-to-order sandwiches. In 1968, the Subway® name was used for the first time. By 1974, the two operated 16 shops in Connecticut. Franchising followed, and today, Subway is one of the world’s largest restaurant brands, with locations in more than 100 countries and over 37,000 restaurants.   Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Mike Kappitt, Chief Operating and Insights Officer at Subway, about the new Subway MVP Rewards program, employee engagement and training, and inspiring guests to demonstrate their extreme love for Subway through exciting initiatives. 

Send us a textFor brands with loyalty programs, customer interaction is an integral part of the total customer experience. Brands benefit when their programs are easy to join, and customers can effortlessly earn and use rewards. vPromos works with clients to minimize barriers to program participation by simplifying the loyalty experience for brands and their customers. Loyalty360 spoke with Peter Vogel, Chief Revenue Officer at vPromos, about how payment terminal technology can improve program performance, facilitate customer communications, and open the door to innovation.

Send us a textDan Evins founded Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® in 1969 in Lebanon, Tennessee. Over the next 50 years, Cracker Barrel evolved into a restaurant with a popular retail store and has taken the brand into the digital space with its online store. Within the brand’s “old general store,” customers can purchase everything from apparel to candles to vintage candy to music. Around the holidays, the store is decorated with trees, and a Christmas theme fills the aisles, from stocking stuffers to thoughtful gifts. The welcoming atmosphere extends into the restaurant. Guests dining at Cracker Barrel find familiar Southern favorites on the menu. The fireplace is likely to be lit, a checkerboard awaits, and families can enjoy the brand’s famous Peg game — a triangle block is located on every table. Cracker Barrel endeavors to offer a unique customer experience from the moment guests cross the front porch and enter the building.  Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Amy Barnett, Vice President of Marketing, Loyalty, and Digital Experience at Cracker Barrel, about collecting valuable input from employees and field operations, rolling out the new Cracker Barrel Rewards program, and partnering with an American music legend.

Send us a textHooters, founded in Clearwater, FL, in 1983, is now one of the largest employers of women in the service industry. With 198 corporate stores and approximately 370 stores in total, including domestic and international franchisees, and a footprint encompassing 42 U.S. states and 29 countries, the brand is celebrating 40 years of delivering memorable guest experiences. The I AM initiative recognizes the women who have “worn the orange shorts” — the Hooters Girls — and empowers employees through educational initiatives and tuition reimbursement. The brand boasts a 70% female demographic within the organization and supports employees as they develop the competencies and skills to build successful careers. Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Cheryl Kish, Chief People Officer at Hooters, about collecting valuable employee feedback to drive successful training programs, the I AM initiative, and the brand’s HootClub Rewards program. Read the full interview on Loyalty360 here: https://loyalty360.org/content-gallery/in-depth-exclusives/hooters-creating-a-culture-of-empowered-employees-and-elevating-the-customer-experience

Send us a textPreferred Hotels & Resorts is a portfolio of independent hotels worldwide that offers travelers a wide selection of luxury stays with a focus on leisure. Guests can choose from a handful of distinctive collections to create the aspirational trip of their dreams, including locations that focus on sustainability or even deliver a touch of history. Preferred Hotel Group, the parent company of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, rebranded in early 2023 to Preferred Travel Group. Today, the I Prefer Hotel Rewards loyalty program counts over 4.5 million enrolled travelers globally.Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Lori Strasberg, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Preferred Hotels & Resorts, about its loyalty program, strategic partnerships, and how AI might drive changes in how people research and plan travel.

Send us a textPublix was founded in 1930 in Winter Haven, FL, by George W. Jenkins and is one of the 10 largest-volume supermarket chains in the country. The brand’s retail sales reached $54.5B in 2022, and Publix is expanding into new markets, with stores opening in Kentucky and enlarging the supermarket’s footprint to eight states.  Employee-owned, the company is both customer- and associate-centric. A commitment to caring for and serving the communities in which stores are located is demonstrated through the brand’s focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR). This year, Publix donated $10M to charities dedicated to alleviating hunger. Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Maria Brous, Director of Communications at Publix, about the Club Publix customer loyalty program, customizing the shopping experience through personalization, and the brand’s goal to always evolve.