Portillo's offers 'Perks' with debut loyalty program
Chicago-based restaurant chain Portillo’s is launching its first-ever loyalty program.
The chain, known for its Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches and more, has debuted Portillo's Perks, an app-less loyalty program that rewards guests each time they visit. Portillo's Perks lives in guests' digital wallets and delivers personalized rewards based on visit frequency and ordering habits. Guests simply check in with their digital Perks card during visits to collect engaging badges and earn targeted rewards.
"Portillo's Perks reflects our commitment to enhancing the guest experience in our own unique way," said Michael Osanloo, president and CEO of Portillo's. "The digital wallet approach allows us to truly personalize offers, so we're able to surprise and delight our guests with easy access and relevant rewards that make each visit engaging, whether it's their first time or their hundredth."
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With each visit, Portillo’s Perks users work towards earning achievement badges, such as "First Bite" for new Perks members and "Top Dog" for frequent guests. These badges unlock free menu items, retail merchandise, and personalized offers.
The program works across all ordering channels – in-restaurant, drive-thru, and Portillo’s website and app. The chain is initially targeting a goal of 1.5-1.7 million membership signups by mid-summer 2025.
"Our approach with Portillo’s Perks is centered on removing friction from the guest experience, not adding to it," said Keith Correia, chief information officer at Portillo’s. "We eliminated common loyalty program pain points by integrating directly with the digital wallet already on guests' phones — no extra apps to download or passwords to remember. This seamless approach rewards longtime fans while creating an easy pathway for new guests to discover all there is to love about Portillo’s."
Founded in 1963, Portillo's operates more than 90 restaurants across 10 states.
