These QSR and Fast Casual Brands are Taking Advantage of Back To School Season

As kids start heading back to school, QSR and fast casual brands in the foodservice space are eager to appeal to students of all ages, including strapped-for-cash college students, by offering new and affordable food deals, according to a Nation’s Restaurant News report.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, for example, is offering free delivery every Sunday in September to help alleviate the back-to-school blues. The brand is hoping to ease Sunday Scaries by offering free back-to-school delivery on all orders of $10 or more. Chipotle is also taking the opportunity to also promote its app and website by running the promotion exclusively online. The back to school promotion falls in line with Chipotle’s recent focus on marketing to a younger, school-age demographic.

For the college-age crowd, Chipotle is offering another clever promotion. “Chipotle recognizes that it goes through over 5.5 million bottles of Tabasco sauce annually, some of which go ‘missing’ in locations near college campuses along with its utensils,” the company said in a press release. Instead of letting customers borrow these goods, Chipotle is giving away a “Things You Borrow Kit”, including Tabasco Sauce and hoodies, to the first 50 digital orders made on Sundays in September in select markets near college campuses.

Another brand taking advantage of the back-to-school crowd is the New England staple Bertucci’s. The Italian chain recently introduced Bertucci’s Bundles, an off-premise deal designed for families and large groups. “With schools back in session and busy routines kicking in, Bertucci’s is here to make mealtime easy for you and your family,” the brand told NRN.

Making sure not to forget about the teachers, B.Good, the counter-serve chain featuring health-conscious versions of fast-food favorites, is celebrating back-to-school time with a promotion that lets students and teachers get any salad, bowl, burger or sandwich for just $5 when they flash a school ID. 

With all of these back-to-school promotions rolling in, it looks like pumpkin spice isn’t the only perk that comes with the Fall time.

To see more promotions, check out the article on NRN