Since it was launched systemwide on September 1, White Castle’s customer loyalty program has provided value to customers who have enrolled. Now, the free, app-based program, called Craver Nation, has a new offer that will make membership even more attractive.

For a limited time, both new and existing Craver Nation members will receive an offer for 20% off all orders placed through Craver Nation in White Castle’s app. They can use the offer as many times as they want to.

“Introducing Craver Nation in 2020 was a way for us to thank our lifelong Cravers and to invite new and future friends to give the Castle a try,” says Jamie Richardson, vice president at White Castle. “It’s an entirely free program, and we’ve been able to provide tremendous value to Craver Nation members with exclusive discounts and special offers, like this 20% off deal.”

Anyone who enrolls in Craver Nation receives an offer for a free combo meal, a promotion that will continue for a limited time. This past year, members have been treated to free chicken rings and “free fry Fridays” as well as discounts and BOGO offers on new menu items, among other deals. 

The 20 percent in-app offer comes just in time for White Castle’s comfort food promotion. To help reduce the chill of winter’s cold days, White Castle has added two past favorites to its menu through February 14 – the Sloppy Joe Slider and Mac & Cheese Nibblers. It’s also added a brand-new menu item, the Smoky Joe Slider, which is White Castle’s Sloppy Joe Slider topped with smoked cheddar cheese and crispy onions.

White Castle had intended to launch Craver Nation in all of its regions in the fourth quarter of 2020. But it accelerated the timeframe once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, knowing online ordering through an app would make it easier – and safer – for customers to order food for pickup or delivery. In addition, 80% of respondents in an informal survey said they would visit White Castle more often if they had access to exclusive discounts within the White Castle app. So White Castle began to roll out the app region by region until it was available everywhere on September 1, 2020.

Since then, participation in Craver Nation has exceeded White Castle’s expectations for the program. App downloads increased in regions where the program was introduced, and they were up 215% between September and November compared to the same period last year.

“We are thankful for the passionate Cravers who were early to embrace Craver Nation,” Richardson says. “We’re looking forward to building this loyalty program and making it the best possible program for our current and future fans.”