As restaurant competition continues to heat up, one thing is clear: restaurants with loyalty programs are set up for success. In an era where customers crave personalization and convenience, loyalty programs are no longer optional — they’re essential. They help restaurants build lasting relationships, drive repeat orders, and stand out in a crowded market.
What makes restaurants with loyalty programs stand out
A few years ago, a restaurant loyalty program might have been a punch card or a message blast to your restaurant email list. Today, loyalty programs are digital, data-driven systems that enable customers to earn rewards across ordering channels.
That’s why restaurants with loyalty programs are seeing an edge: they’re creating consistent, rewarding experiences across every touchpoint.
Beyond perks, loyalty programs send a message: “We value you.” And in 2026, that message can set you apart from the pack.
Why restaurants with loyalty programs can see higher repeat orders
Turning first-time diners into regulars
Customer acquisition is expensive — but customer retention is where profit lives. Loyalty programs help restaurants convert one-time guests into repeat customers. 75% of consumers participating in loyalty programs will buy more products from the brands they partner with.
This number reflect a deeper truth: loyalty isn’t just about points, it’s about connection. When diners feel recognized and rewarded, they buy more.
Strengthening relationships with value
Successful loyalty programs aren’t built on low-value coupons — they’re built on meaningful rewards that loyal customers find valuable. With 66% of consumers reporting that the ability to earn rewards changes their spending behavior, restaurants need to opt for rewards that show they care and value their regulars.
How Restaurants with Loyalty Programs Can Cut Marketing Costs
It’s no secret that retaining customers costs less than constantly finding new ones. According to Harvard Business Review, it can be up to five times cheaper to keep an existing diner than to attract a new one.
For restaurants with loyalty programs, marketing becomes more efficient and targeted. Instead of broad, high-cost campaigns, you can use loyalty data to reach the right customers at the right time.
Customizable email and text marketing available with the DoorDash Commerce Platform Pro package lets restaurants write highly targeted messages to different audiences, including loyalty program members. And, Cross-Channel Loyalty, also available with the Commerce Platform Pro package includes an automated email series that reminds loyalty members to spend their rewards.
For El Jefes, an East Coast Mexican restaurant chain, automated loyalty emails, paired with other automated email marketing campaigns, generated $18,000 in sales in the three months after they went live with the Pro package.**
"With DoorDash’s CRM and loyalty, we can track and communicate with all our customers—not just the ones who walk in and that leads to more profitable sales."
Trends Shaping Restaurants with Loyalty Programs in 2026
The restaurant landscape is changing fast. Here’s what’s driving the next wave of loyalty innovation:
Mobile-first experiences: The average screentime in the US is over 5 hours a day! That means, your loyalty program should reward customers who order on their mobile phones — on both your own restaurant app and on DoorDash.
Integration and automation: The most successful programs connect directly with ordering systems and marketing tools to keep engagement automatic and consistent.
Omni-channel consistency: Customers don’t think in “channels.” They expect loyalty to work whether they’re ordering online, in person, on your mobile app, or on DoorDash.
Cross-Channel Loyalty for Restaurants
DoorDash’s Cross-Channel Loyalty is an industry-first program that brings all loyalty touchpoints under one roof. It’s built for restaurants that want to meet customers wherever they order — and keep them coming back.
One loyalty program, every channel covered
With Cross-Channel Loyalty, your customers can earn and redeem rewards whether they order in-store, through your website, your branded mobile app, or on DoorDash. No more fragmented experiences or missed opportunities — every transaction contributes to one unified loyalty journey.
Bring DoorDash customers into your own program
Cross-Channel Loyalty helps restaurants seamlessly enroll their most loyal DoorDash Marketplace customers into their own brand ecosystem. When diners connect their DoorDash accounts with your restaurant’s loyalty program, you gain access to their contact information allowing you to engage directly with customers you've won from DoorDash.
Powered by the DoorDash
Cross-Channel Loyalty runs on the same technology that powers millions of DoorDash orders every day — built for reliability, scale, and simplicity. You get a loyalty system that integrates with your ordering channels, uses real data to engage customers, and keeps your brand front and center.
How restaurants with loyalty programs can build long-term success
If you’re thinking about creating or improving your loyalty program, start with these key steps:
Set clear goals: Decide whether your priority is increasing visit frequency, average ticket size, or customer lifetime value.
Integrate across all channels: Ensure customers earn and redeem points whether they’re ordering online, through a mobile app, dining in, or ordering on DoorDash.
Automate engagement: Use a restaurant CRM (Customer Relationship Management system), like the one available with the DoorDash Commerce Platform, to send email or push notifications to remind customers about rewards or new offers.
Offer meaningful rewards: Focus on perks that feel valuable — free items, discounts, and other offers that speak to your most loyal customers.
Track performance: Review redemption rates, repeat orders, and average spend to see what’s working.
How the DoorDash Commerce Platform supports restaurants with loyalty programs
The DoorDash Commerce Platform gives restaurants everything they need to create a fully connected loyalty experience — no complex tech required.
Here’s how it works:
Online Ordering: Commission-free online ordering** directly from your site or social channels, integrated with loyalty tracking.
Automated Email Marketing: Set-it-and-forget-it campaigns that can boost order frequency by an average of 15% among new and returning customers.***
Branded Mobile App: A custom mobile app that increases order frequency by 30% and lets diners manage their loyalty rewards.****
Cross-Channel Loyalty: A unified loyalty engine that lets customers earn and redeem rewards across every channel — even on DoorDash.
Together, these tools help restaurants with loyalty programs turn casual diners into devoted fans while keeping their brand at the center of every experience.
Discover Commerce PlatformRestaurants with loyalty programs are built to win
The restaurant industry of 2026 belongs to businesses that think beyond the next order — those that build real, lasting relationships with their customers.
Loyalty isn’t just a marketing tactic; it’s a growth engine. By investing in modern loyalty tools and connecting every channel through platforms like DoorDash Commerce Platform, restaurants can drive repeat business, strengthen their brand, and keep customers coming back again and again.
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*Based on DoorDash internal data, Jun 2025 to Sep 2025
**2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee applies
***Based on internal DoorDash data from March 2024 through March 2025
****Compared to customers using web ordering channels. Based on internal DoorDash data from January 2025 to June 2025
