Guide
Updated 12 November 2026
Takeaway loyalty programme ideas for UK restaurants
By Arslan Munir
Updated 12 Nov 2026. This is a practical guide, so we have not put invented statistics in it. The one Chefzi detail you need is that customer loyalty rewards are on the Chefzi Pro plan (£49 a month, or £39 billed annually, per location, excluding VAT), and work with online orders and the Chefzi POS.
In short: the best takeaway loyalty programmes are simple enough to explain in one sentence, cost you a known amount per reward, and are only available when a customer orders direct from you. A reward you cannot cost is a discount you cannot control.
Eight ideas that work for takeaways
| Idea | How it works | What to cost | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points per pound | Customer earns 1 point per £1 spent and swaps points for a reward | Decide the value of a point first, for example 100 points = a free side | Too many points for too little spend makes it a permanent discount |
| Stamp card, order 10 get one free | Every direct order earns a stamp, the tenth is a free main | Cost of one main at your food cost, not your menu price | Set a minimum basket so a £3 order does not count |
| Free item on the Nth order | A free drink or dessert on the 5th order | Food cost of the item only | Pick items with a high margin and low cost |
| Spend threshold reward | £30 spent in a month earns £5 off next order | £5 divided by your average basket | Choose a threshold above your average basket |
| First reorder offer | A reward for the second direct order within 14 days | Single small reward | Turns a one-off into a regular, but only if the reward is clear |
| Birthday or anniversary reward | A free item in the week of the customer's birthday | Food cost of one item | You need to collect the date with consent |
| Tiered regulars | Bronze, silver and gold levels with better rewards | Set a cap per level | Complicated for a small shop to explain |
| Direct-order only bonus | A reward only on your own website or app, never on delivery apps | Nothing extra beyond the reward | Be clear on your menu that it is direct only |
How to cost a reward
- Work out your food cost for the reward item, not the menu price.
- Work out your average direct order value from your last month of orders.
- Pick a reward worth no more than the commission you would have paid on one marketplace order of that size, if you want a simple rule. Check the current rates in our Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo guides.
- Write the maths down: reward cost divided by average basket tells you what share of each order the reward gives away.
Keep it simple
- One sentence on the menu: "Order direct, earn a free side on every tenth order."
- One screen for the customer to see their progress.
- Start with one scheme and measure it for a month before you add another.
- Tell staff what it is, so the phone and the counter match the website.
Rules to follow in the UK
- If you collect a customer's contact details, say what you will use them for and let them opt out.
- Marketing by email or text needs the right consent. See the ICO's direct marketing guidance and our SMS and email marketing page.
- Do not make claims you cannot support in your offer wording, such as "best in town".
Where Chefzi fits
Chefzi's loyalty and rewards let you choose what customers earn and what they get. They work with online orders and the Chefzi POS, and they are on the Pro plan. The branded Android app is also on Pro. See Chefzi loyalty and rewards and pricing.
To bring regulars from delivery apps to your own ordering, see move customers from Just Eat to your website, and see SMS and email marketing for the campaigns.
Sources
- Chefzi loyalty and rewards page and pricing, chefzi.co.uk, read 12 Nov 2026.
- ICO direct marketing guidance, ico.org.uk.
Questions
What is a good loyalty programme for a takeaway?
A simple one: a stamp card or points per pound on direct orders, with a reward you can cost. For example, a free side on every tenth order, with the food cost of the side as your cost.
How do I stop a loyalty scheme costing me too much?
Cost the reward at food cost, set a minimum basket, cap the reward per customer and review the numbers after a month. Reward cost divided by average basket shows how much of each order you give away.
Should loyalty rewards work on delivery apps?
No. The point of a loyalty scheme is to bring customers to your own ordering, where you keep the order value and the customer's details. Marketplace orders pay commission and the platform owns the customer relationship.
Does Chefzi have a loyalty programme?
Yes. Customer loyalty rewards are on the Pro plan, £49 a month (£39 billed annually) per location, excluding VAT. You choose what customers earn and what they get, and it works with online orders and the Chefzi POS.
Do I need a branded app for loyalty?
No. A loyalty scheme can run on your ordering website. Chefzi's branded Android app is included on Pro.
Do I need consent to send customers loyalty offers?
If you send marketing by email or text, yes, you need the right consent and an easy way to opt out. Check the ICO's guidance.
How many orders does it take for a loyalty scheme to pay back?
It depends on your food cost, basket and reward, so we do not give a figure. Use the costing steps above with your own numbers.