Chipotle is calling for trivia experts in its latest promotion. The burrito chain is bringing back its Chipotle IQ game, with 50 $500 gift cards up for grabs.
And man, I wish I was a kid again so I could get in on all these back-to-school promotions. Dogs also seem to be in the spotlight this week on the heels of International Dog Day.
Here’s a look at what’s new in the world of restaurant marketing.
Test your Chipotle knowledge
Chipotle is giving diners the chance to score a buy-one-get-one deal if they can get 10/10 on the burrito chain’s trivia game. The chain is bringing back Chipotle IQ, a game about all things Chipotle, for its fourth year. It will feature questions on Chipotle’s ingredients, food standards, culinary techniques, sustainability efforts, brand history and community engagement.
In addition to the buy-one-get-one prize, the game offers the chance to win one of 50 $500 stainless steel gift cards. For a chance at winning, diners must achieve a perfect score on the game as well as correctly answer an extra credit question. The game is open until Thursday, Aug. 24, and can be found online at http://www.chipotleiq.com.
Back-to-school deals
Kids and teachers are in for a treat this week with a surplus of back-to-school promotions from restaurants. But don’t fret—if your student days are over, everybody can get in on some of these deals.
Toppers Pizza, for instance, is celebrating the back-to-school season with an array of prizes as it opens a new location in Bloomington, Ind., the home of Indiana University. The new location will open its doors on Saturday, Aug. 26, and reward its first 50 walk-in customers with free food for a year. In addition, the first 500 customers will receive scratch-off tickets for a chance to win free food for a year and other prizes. The pizza chain is also offering a BOGO deal for all customers from Aug. 26-Sept 1.
At Smokey Bones, kids aged 10 and younger can receive a free kid’s meal. This back-to-school promotion will run all day, every day until Sept. 30.
Pluckers Wing Bar's special focuses on the teachers. The chicken chain is rewarding educators every Friday from 3-7 P.M. with a free appetizer.
And Firehouse Subs is getting into the school spirit with a buy-two-get-one-free sub deal.
If you’re in the market for something sweeter, Insomnia Cookies is giving out a 6-pack of classic cookies with any in-store purchase of $5 or more through Sept. 1. For students up late studying or others who want to get in on a good deal, the cookie chain is also offering free delivery on orders of $15 or more with the promo code BACK2COOKIES.
International Dog Day
International Dog Day takes place on Saturday, Aug. 26, and some restaurant chains are using the day to celebrate diners four-legged friends.
Krispy Kreme is offering doughnut shaped biscuits for dogs from Aug. 26-31. But these aren’t just any dog biscuits. They’re pumpkin spice flavored. The doggie doughnuts were inspired by the launch of Krispy Kreme’s Pumpkin Spice doughnut collection earlier this month and come in a variety of flavors. Now your dog can try out Pup’kin Spice Maple Peanut, Pup’kin Spice Original Glazed Pup’kin Spice Cake or the Pup’kin Spice Cheesecake Swirl.
If you want to celebrate dogs in another way, consider buying an iced latte from Dunkin’s mobile app on Saturday. For every iced latte purchased on that day via the app, Dunkin’ will donate $1 to the Joy in Childhood Foundation to support its Dogs for Joy Program.
National Burger Day
Another food-centric holiday taking place this week is National Burger Day on Aug. 24. In honor of the day, Krystal is offering a buy-one-get-one offer when diners join its rewards program, Krystal Club.
Saucetember
Zaxby’s is really into sauce. Last month, the chicken chain launched a Change.org petition to create the first sauce emoji, and now, it's preparing to celebrate Saucetember by auctioning off a bottle of Zax Sauce signed by the chain’s founder. The winning bid will receive the collectible item as well as a lifetime supply of Zax sauce. Proceeds for the auction, which opens Sept. 12 on eBay, will go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
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