Operations
Krystal's new loyalty program focuses on gamification, exclusive perks, seamless experience
Slider chain Krystal partnered with PAR Punchh to launch its new loyalty program, Club Krystal, which offers personalized, gamified rewards, seamless multi-channel access and data-driven engagement to support its national expansion strategy.
November 21, 2025 by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
Last month, slider chain Krystal selected PAR Punchh to power its new loyalty program, Club Krystal.
Krystal's decision to partner with PAR marked a strategic milestone in its growth journey. The brand has nearly 300 locations across 11 states.
Caroline Patheja, senior marketing manager at Krystal, said the brand is focused on created moments that matter for its guests.
"That starts with recognizing and rewarding them in ways that feel personal," she said in a press release. "We've already seen great feedback from both team members and guests on how easy the program is to use, and we're excited about what's ahead. Punchh gives us the tools to deliver those personalized experiences while scaling seamlessly as we grow."
QSRweb.com talked to Patheja by email to learn more about the loyalty program and why now was the right time to launch it.
Q: Beyond earning 10 points per dollar, can you elaborate on the exclusive rewards and benefits that members can unlock at different thresholds? For example, are there birthday rewards, free items or tiered membership levels?
Patheja: At launch, members receive a welcome reward of $3 off a $12 order, along with access to exclusive "Birthday Month" treats and special activations like Krystalmas, which incorporates exciting perks and prizes tied to participation. Our goal is to create a loyalty program that feels personal and rewarding, rather than just another punch card.
To enhance engagement, we're introducing gamification elements, such as achievement badges, progress tracking and tiered milestones. Additionally, members can look forward to exciting campaigns like our loyalty program anniversary celebration, where they can enjoy a complimentary dessert, and referral rewards that offer 100 points for each friend they bring on board. This combination of features is designed to make the experience fun, interactive and shareable, ensuring that our guests feel valued and fostering long-term loyalty.
Members can also complete challenges to earn offers or bonus points, with surprise and delight rewards popping up frequently. Look out for special holiday offers and exclusive promotions linked to events like our Annual Krystalmas special for Club Krystal members. This year, we're also excited to include a sweepstakes element, giving Club Krystal members a chance to win a Coca-Cola VIP NASCAR Race Experience.
Overall, these exclusive rewards and benefits keep the experience engaging and meaningful for all our members.
Q: The announcement mentions a focus on "frictionless experiences." What steps has Krystal taken to ensure that the process of signing up, earning and redeeming rewards is as easy as possible for the guest across all channels (mobile, web, in-store)?
Patheja:Club Krystal is built on PAR's unified engagement platform, which connects marketing, offers, ordering, guest data and loyalty in one place. Guests can sign up and start earning immediately through either the mobile app or web, and the same account works across every channel, from drive-thru to digital ordering. Simplicity was key, and feedback from both guests and team members has been overwhelmingly positive.
Q:How specifically will PAR Punchh's capabilities be used to deliver the "personalized savings" and "personalized experiences" that Krystal is aiming for, and what kind of guest data will drive these offers?
Patheja: Punchh gives Krystal the ability to truly understand and engage each guest. Its technology unifies guest data from all systems, including order history, ordering channels, loyalty program engagement, visit patterns, and any guest feedback. The platform uses all this data to craft real-time offers that reflect individual preferences. That means the more guests interact with Club Krystal, the smarter the experience becomes. It's personalization that scales with our growth.
Q:How does Club Krystal fit into Krystal's broader strategy for accelerating national expansion? Is the loyalty program designed differently for guests in new markets versus established ones?
Patheja: As Krystal Restaurants continues expanding beyond the core Southeast markets into Texas, South Carolina and Alabama, Club Krystal helps create a consistent, connected guest experience everywhere it goes. PAR's platforms give the team flexibility to scale quickly while staying personal at the local level. PAR creates the foundation for long-term loyalty during nationwide expansion.
Q:From an operational perspective, how smoothly has the Punchh platform integrated with Krystal's existing Point-of-Sale (POS) system and other technology, and what was the training process like for team members?
Patheja:Operationally, the rollout has been very smooth. One of the priorities was to make sure the platform fit easily into existing workflows for restaurant teams. According to feedback, both guests and team members found the program simple to use and easy to explain. That tells us we succeeded in keeping the technology intuitive. Our training focused on helping teams see loyalty as part of the guest experience, not just another task. When team members understand how it enhances the visit, they get excited to talk about it, and that enthusiasm shows through to our guests.
Q: The release briefly mentions "subscription benefits." Can you provide more detail on what these subscription-based features are and how they add value to the Club Krystal membership?
Patheja: The program includes subscription benefits alongside features like saved payments and mobile convenience. While full details haven't been shared yet, the goal is to give the most loyal guests ongoing perks that add real value over time. Subscriptions are a great way to create predictability for both the guest and the business. They let us reward frequent visitors with additional convenience and exclusive offers that encourage more consistent engagement. For us, it is another way to turn everyday guests into long-term fans.
Q: What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) Krystal will be monitoring to measure the success of Club Krystal, and what are the goals in terms of repeat visits or average check size driven by the program?
Patheja: Krystal Restaurants will measure success through repeat visits, engagement frequency, and overall revenue growth. PAR Punchh was chosen because it helps us monitor those metrics in real time. The goal is to deepen relationships and drive measurable impact across every location. As PAR's CEO Savneet Singh said in the announcement, "Loyalty today is more than points and discounts. It is about creating personalized experiences that drive real revenue growth." That is the mindset we bring to every campaign. We are focused on loyalty that lasts, not just sign-ups.
Q: What are some of the planned future features or enhancements for Club Krystal that the team is most excited about, now that the foundational program has successfully launched?
Patheja: Club Krystal is the beginning of a long-term loyalty journey. With the foundation now live, the team is excited to keep adding new ways to connect through the app, including surprise rewards, limited-time challenges, and interactive features that make every visit feel like a win. By introducing gamification elements such as achievement badges, progress tracking, and tiered milestones — we'll keep guests engaged and motivated to return. Our marketing team is also looking forward to using insights from Punchh to refine offers and optimize communication over time. The feedback so far has been great, and we plan to keep building on that momentum as we grow across the country.
About Mandy Wolf Detwiler
Mandy Wolf Detwiler is the managing editor at Networld Media Group and the site editor for PizzaMarketplace.com and QSRweb.com. She has more than 20 years’ experience covering food, people and places.
An award-winning print journalist, Mandy brings more than 20 years’ experience to Networld Media Group. She has spent nearly two decades covering the pizza industry, from independent pizzerias to multi-unit chains and every size business in between. Mandy has been featured on the Food Network and has won numerous awards for her coverage of the restaurant industry. She has an insatiable appetite for learning, and can tell you where to find the best slices in the country after spending 15 years traveling and eating pizza for a living.
