Chili’s is playing into an iconic rapper’s loyal fanbase with its Barbz Day celebration. Big Chicken is challenging diners to imagine what a menu from space would look like. And Chipotle has several promotions on offer in honor of the 2023 Grand Prix.
Here’s a look at what’s new in the world of restaurant marketing.
Nicki Minaj and pink ‘Barbaritas”
Fans of Nicki Minaj (or fans of pink margaritas) should head over to Chili’s on Oct.24 for its second “Barbz Day” celebration. Barbz is what Nicki Minaj calls her fans. And the day of celebration for Barbz got its origins last year when Chili’s posted a tweet inspired by a Nicki Minaj song and soon thereafter asked its followers if Chili’s should host a day dedicated to Barbz. Diners apparently liked that idea because Barbz Day is back for another year. This year, diners can score pink “Barbaritas” for $5 and Premium Barbaritas for $9. In addition, the chain is hosting a giveaway—diners that visit a Chili’s location in a pink outfit and post a picture to social media platform X with the hashtag #ChilisGrillAndBarbz have a chance to win a 2023 Barbz Day shirt. Or diners can post to TikTok with a Barbz-inspired video for a chance to win a $1,000 concert ticket voucher.
Big Chicken’s menu from space
Big Chicken wants diners to imagine what a menu in space would look like. Big Chicken and Club for the Future, Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin’s nonprofit, worked together on a new education curriculum to inspire students about STEM careers. The lesson plan includes challenging students to think about what a new menu item would look like in space. The curriculum will launch on Oct. 24. In addition, the chicken chain is launching a Future Postcards to Space initiative. Blue Origin will fly the completed postcards on a future New Shepard mission, stamp them “flown to space” and return them to the creator. The chain is also giving out a free kid’s sundae to diners who fill out the postcard. This activity will launch in select stores on Oct. 24.
“By combining the excitement of space exploration with Big Chicken's offerings, we are nurturing the curiosity of young minds and fueling their appetite for the benefit of earth,” said Michael Edmonds, SVP of strategy, marketing, and sales at Blue Origin, and president of Club for the Future.
Chipotle’s Grand Prix promotion
Chipotle has several promotions in store for racing fans in honor of the 2023 United States Grand Prix. The burrito brand is an official sponsor of the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, and as such has launched a digital only menu item in honor of Team Principal Guenther Steiner’s go-to order. The item on offer is a burrito featuring brown rice, black beans, braised beef barbacoa, fajita veggies, sour cream and guac.
In addition, the chain is bringing back its, We Score, You Score promotion for the upcoming race taking place Sunday in Austin. If MoneyGram Haas F1 Team drivers Nico Hulkenberg or Kevin Magnussen score points during the race, the Haas team will giveaway 5,000 free entrees from their X account. If both drivers score points, the team will double the offer and giveaway 10,000 free entrees. The first 5,000 fans who text the code which will be shared from the Haas X account, will receive a free entrée.
On Friday leading up to the race, Chipotle will have a replica MoneyGram Haas car on display at an Austin Location.
Free pizza
Home Slice Pizza is giving away a free slice of pizza to anyone who comes into the restaurant wearing Astros gear, every day until the end of the 2023 American League Championship Series. The pizzeria is running the promotion in honor of the team making it to the championship.
Speaking of free pizza, in honor of opening its newest Tampa location, this week Blaze pizza gave away free pizza for a year to the first 50 customers in line. In addition, on Oct. 16., the restaurant hosted a free pizza day, offering all diners a free 11 in. pizza when downloading the Blaze Pizza app.
Krystal’s 91st birthday
It’s Krystal’s 91st birthday and the slider chain is giving its diners a gift to celebrate. On Tuesday Oct. 24., the chain is offering a free 4 piece of its Glaze Bombs with a $5 purchase for all digital orders at participating restaurants.
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