For operators, keeping customers engaged without cutting into profit is an ongoing challenge. Loyalty programs remain one of the most effective ways to build that connection. In fact, 85% of consumers say they’re more likely to continue shopping when they can earn rewards, and members of reward programs drive 12 to 18% more incremental revenue each year compared to non-members.
In food and beverage especially, loyalty is critical — about 70% of first-time visitors never come back. The right program can turn a single purchase into ongoing behavior.
At 365 Retail Markets, operators have two distinct options to reward their shoppers: Loyalty and Enhanced Rewards. Both can increase frequency and spend, but they’re designed for different needs. The key is knowing which approach fits your market.
Understanding How Each Program Works
Before choosing between them, it’s important to understand how each program operates day to day. The structure behind earning and redeeming points shapes both the shopper experience and your bottom line.
365 Loyalty
Loyalty is built for simplicity. It functions like a cash-back system, automatically rewarding shoppers for each transaction made with their Global Market Account (GMA).
By default, shoppers earn one point per penny spent, though you can boost specific SKUs with multipliers up to 25x. Points never expire, and every quarter, 365 automatically converts balances into cash back that appears in the shopper’s account.
Redemption levels:
- 10,000 points = $1
- 15,000 points = $3
- 20,000 points = $5
- 30,000 points = $9 (maximum redemption)
The program’s funding comes from a 2% withholding on GMA sales, adjusted for any multipliers you set. It’s predictable, low-effort, and easy to model.
Shopper experience: a steady, automatic rebate that builds over time.
365 Enhanced Rewards
Enhanced Rewards is more interactive. It’s a tier-based system within 365Pay that rewards progress and engagement.
Shoppers begin as Members and advance through three higher tiers, earning points faster as they move up — from $1 = 10 points to as high as $1 = 13 points. Instead of cash back, points are redeemed for specific products you choose from your inventory. Each reward tier can feature up to 10 products, complete with images and custom branding.
Because shoppers redeem physical items directly from your shelves, there are no EFT disbursement fees. Your real cost is the COGS of those items. Operators control every part of the program in ADM — tiers, thresholds, product catalogs — and can manage them by organization or location.
Shopper experience: a visible, gamified path to rewards they can track both in-app and at the kiosk.
Comparing Loyalty and Enhanced Rewards
Both programs encourage repeat business, but they differ in setup, cost and engagement style. Here’s how they stack up.
Where Each Program Performs Best
Choosing between Loyalty and Enhanced Rewards isn’t about which is better overall — it’s about what works best for your operation, shopper base and capacity to manage it.
Loyalty is best when
- You want a low-touch, predictable setup.
- Your sites are high-volume with smaller baskets (e.g., manufacturing, warehouse, or corporate locations).
- You occasionally promote specific products and need an easy way to boost sales.
- You prefer 365 to handle enablement and maintenance.
In practice: Loyalty typically delivers a 1 to 3% rebate to shoppers based on spend.
Enhanced Rewards is best when
- You want a branded experience that feels interactive.
- You have the time to curate and refresh a product catalog.
- Your locations serve diverse groups (corporate campuses, hospitals, universities) where variety and engagement drive results.
- You want to control costs by selecting products with strong margins.
In practice: Enhanced Rewards creates a “club” environment where shoppers advance through tiers and redeem points for desirable products.
A Quick Way to Choose
Still unsure which model fits? Ask yourself:
- Do I want shoppers to see this as a rebate? → Loyalty
- Do I want a visual rewards shelf or product catalog? → Enhanced Rewards
- Do I need item-level promotion tools? → Loyalty
- Do I want to avoid EFT disbursement fees? → Enhanced Rewards
- How much time can I dedicate to updates? → Minimal time = Loyalty; consistent management = Enhanced Rewards
The Takeaway
Loyalty programs aren’t interchangeable — they’re strategic tools that work best when matched to your goals.
With 365 Retail Markets, you don’t have to choose a single approach for your entire network. Each location can run the program that fits its audience. A smaller manufacturing site might perform best with the simplicity of Loyalty, while a corporate campus could benefit from the engagement and customization of Enhanced Rewards.
Both drive measurable lifts in repeat visits and average spend — the difference lies in how they motivate behavior. Loyalty provides steady, predictable value, while Enhanced Rewards builds visibility and excitement. The right choice depends on how you want shoppers to connect with your brand.
If you’re weighing your options, contact 365 Retail Markets. Our team has guided operators across every vertical to design programs that align with their goals and scale with their business.