Chipotle Giving Loyalty Program Members More Than $20M In Free Catering

Chipotle customers who joined the chain’s temporary loyalty program — a program aimed at winning back customers after a spate of food-borne illness outbreaks at its restaurants — are finally getting a reward, in the form of free catered food.

About 85,000 Chiptopia members who completed the program’s top tier of requirements will get free catering for 20 people at a value of $240, which shakes out to about $20.4 million, company spokesman Chris Arnold told CNBC.

Chiptopia’s three levels — mild, medium, and hot — rewarded customers who visited the restaurant since June. To get to “hot” status folks had to buy 11 or more entrees every month for all three summer months. They earned nine free meals already for hitting that tier, so the free catering is just the guacamole on the burrito (this time, it doesn’t cost extra).

They sound pretty hungry after all that hard work:

Killian hit Hot Status at Chipotle all 3 months so he gets free catering from them for 10 people what a champ

— Ruairi Bonnar (@Ruairi_26) September 29, 2016

It only took 36 chipotle trips, many sleepless nights , and an iron will, but I'm happy to announce I have free catering from chipotle

— Bradly Andrew (@brad24sunnyd) September 27, 2016

Got that 20 person Chipotle catering service for free so we lit for ghoe

— (@aviannaaaaa) September 30, 2016

Chipotle hot status for three months free catering coming soon

— Brynnan Jacobs (@brynnanj) September 30, 2016

Killian hit Hot Status at Chipotle all 3 months so he gets free catering from them for 10 people what a champ

— Ruairi Bonnar (@Ruairi_26) September 29, 2016

Proud to announce that @Nate_Chase24 and my dream of winning catering for twenty in chipotle came true today 🤘

— Sack ⛵️ (@zchase4099) September 28, 2016

Hard work does pay off!! I am blessed and honored to announce that I have earned free chipotle catering #GrindToShine http://pic.twitter.com/1q0EZwBGAw

— AntsInMyEyes Johnson (@embroskee) September 26, 2016

today we learned that addictions DO pay off!! i just earned feee catering for 20 from chipotle bc of how often i go there 🤓🤓🤓🤓

— kaylyn bennett (@kaybennny) September 25, 2016

CNCBC notes that Chiptopia is paying off for the company, the chain said in July, and it’s now planning another loyalty program. It’s unclear if it would be a permanent thing or another limited-time promotion.

Chipotle to give away more than $20 million in free catering [CNBC]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist