Jimmy John's CEO Says Long-Awaited Loyalty Program is Coming Soon
*By Lillie Carlson and Chloe Aiello*
Delivery has always been integral to Jimmy John's, first as a means of survival, then as a cornerstone of its business model. But today Jimmy John's is taking its push for customer loyalty one step further with a rewards program.
"We're in the process. Hold on soon, it's coming," Jimmy John's CEO and President James North told Cheddar Thursday.
Jimmy John's sandwich fiends have long hoped for some sort of rewards program ー there's even a Facebook ($FB) group, called Petition for Jimmy Johns Rewards Program, dedicated to the cause. And although North wouldn't go into much detail about the program ー only saying the company hasn't "made the final decision" about whether the program will be points-based, order-based or otherwise ー at least now these sandwich lovers have something to look forward to.
This development comes as many popular chains, like Starbuck ($SBUX) and Chick-fil-A, have rolled out loyalty programs to drive traffic and increase per-visit spending. Jimmy John's has a devoted customer base and a rock-solid operating process, but a loyalty program could be instrumental in driving up revenue.
Jimmy John's has accrued customers through its consistent speed, accuracy, and quality. The restaurant has its in-house delivery service down to a science. "Delivery's been part of our DNA for 36 years. It was part of the model, it was how we grew the business," North said.
In fact, Jimmy John's is so confident in its business model, it's refusing to let third-party delivery services, like Uber Eats or DoorDash, ever deliver its sandwiches. North told Cheddar that Jimmy John's only delivers sandwiches to areas within five minutes of its stores, and it is not willing to compromise on its promise to customers.
"We have the best delivery model on the planet," he said.
North's confidence is notable at a time when other delivery services are stumbling.
Instacart, a grocery delivery app, recently announced that it is reversing its controversial policy of applying its workers' tips toward their wages, following a public outcry. Its rival DoorDash is under fire for a similar tipping policy.
But James North says Jimmy John's strategy is different. "Our franchisees and our stores take care of our delivery drivers. We’ve got a world-class training model, we’re very safe, follow all the local laws, and our delivery drivers not only have an opportunity to deliver our sandwiches but work in-store. There’s a huge opportunity for growth within our organization if you start as a part-time delivery driver."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/going-against-the-grain-jimmy-johns-ceo-talks-delivery-service).
OpenAI has appointed Slack CEO Denise Dresser as its first chief of revenue. Dresser will oversee global revenue strategy and help businesses integrate AI into daily operations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently emphasized improving ChatGPT, which now has over 800 million weekly users. Despite its success, OpenAI faces competition from companies like Google and concerns about profitability. The company earns money from premium ChatGPT subscriptions but hasn't ventured into advertising. Altman had recently announced delays in developing new products like AI agents and a personal assistant.
President Donald Trump says he will allow Nvidia to sell its H200 computer chip used in the development of artificial intelligence to “approved customers” in China. Trump said Monday on his social media site that he had informed China’s leader Xi Jinping and “President Xi responded positively!” There had been concerns about allowing advanced computer chips into China as it could help them to compete against the U.S. in building out AI capabilities. But there has also been a desire to develop the AI ecosystem with American companies such as chipmaker Nvidia.
U.S. sports betting is booming as NFL and college football fuel massive activity. BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt breaks down trends, growth, and what’s next.
President Donald Trump says a deal struck by Netflix last week to buy Warner Bros. Discovery “could be a problem” because of the size of the combined market share. The Republican president says he will be involved in the decision about whether federal regulators should approve the deal. Trump commented Sunday when he was asked about the deal as he walked the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors. The $72 billion deal would bring together two of the biggest players in television and film and potentially reshape the entertainment industry.
Disney's changes to a program for disabled visitors are facing challenges in federal court and through a shareholder proposal. The Disability Access Service program, which allows disabled visitors to skip long lines, was overhauled last year. Disney now mostly limits the program to those with developmental disabilities like autism who have difficulty waiting in lines. The changes have sparked criticism from some disability advocates. A shareholder proposal submitted by disability advocates calls for an independent review of Disney's disability policies. Disney plans to block this proposal, claiming it's misleading. It's the latest struggle by Disney to accommodate disabled visitors while stopping past abuses by some theme park guests.
