The Loyalty Newswire February 02, 2026

The Loyalty Newswire from The Wise Marketer

From the Editor

Three new loyalty programs are in the news this week from Advance Auto, Just Salads, and Planet 13.

It’s icy in many parts of the world today and this news is just the tip of the iceberg for all that is happening in customer loyalty.

We expanded our available job opportunities (scroll to the bottom) to include Baesman, ebbo and Engage People.

We are here to help you succeed. Let us know how we can help.

Bill Hanifin, Managing Editor, The Wise Marketer

Short Takes

New India CLMP™ Workshop on Feb 12-13, 2026

Certified education partner Strategic Caravan will be hosting the India CLMP™ Loyalty Academy workshop in Delhi February 12-13 at the Radisson Blu Marina Hotel, Connaught Place, New Delhi.

This is a workshop designed and delivered by practitioners for practitioners, so expect a high level of interactive conversation, exercises, and group work. Give yourself a gift to start the new year and accelerate your career in customer loyalty and digital marketing. Register here.

Advance Auto Parts Launches Advance Rewards Loyalty Program

Advance Auto Parts, a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider operating 4,297 stores primarily within the United States, launched Advance Rewards, replacing the former Speed Perks program.

Advance Rewards maintains a familiar, tiered structure with three tiers including 1st Gear, 2nd Gear, and Top Gear, rewarding more frequent shoppers with higher rewards rates and provides greater coupon flexibility, including the ability to combine coupons for up to $100 in savings.

Loyalty Without Points? Just Salads Says YES!

Just Salads operates over 100 locations across 7 states in the US. The new loyalty program JS Rewards leapfrogs the traditional points model, instead offering free items after each purchase with rewards dropped every month, making loyalty simple and immediate. T & C here.

“JS Rewards eliminates points and tiers in favor of instant rewards and free drops – giving guests real value right away, with zero friction,” said Nick Kenner, Founder and CEO of Just Salad.

Planet 13 Launches New Rewards Program

Planet 13 Holdings, a leading vertically-integrated multi-state cannabis company, announced the launch of Planet 13 Rewards, a redesigned loyalty program that lets customers earn points on every purchase and redeem them like cash at checkout.

The program integrates with the Planet 13 mobile app, available on iOS and Android, where members can track points, view their tier status, and browse current promotions. Customers can also earn and redeem points in-store using their phone number or email.

Valuedynamx Partners With Radisson Rewards to Expand Earning Opportunities for Members

Valuedynamx announced a strategic partnership with Radisson Hotel Group to expand its Radisson Rewards loyalty program. This expansion allows members to accelerate their path to hotel stays and access the full range of travel and lifestyle benefits offered by Radisson Rewards.

Now, more than 25 million Radisson Rewards members across the UK, India, France, Germany, USA, Spain and Italy, will be able to earn points on everyday purchases made online through the new Radisson Rewards Shop.

“Starbucks is back,” says CEO Brian Niccol. Apparently, Private Jet Travel for CEO’s is Back Also

During Investor Day 2026, Brian Niccol highlighted operational improvements and better results for the global coffee chain. He highlighted the upcoming overhaul of the Starbucks Rewards loyalty program – starting March 10, a new three-tier structure will be introduced, featuring Green, Gold, and Reserve levels, offering faster rewards accumulation, expanded benefits, and personalized offers.

Niccol has received criticism lately for his lobbying for private air travel in his business and personal life. Recently, Starbucks removed US$250,000-a-year cap for the CEO’s private jet use. It’s an interesting policy change for a company that touts its concern for the environment and in consideration of Mr. Niccol’s estimated 2025 total compensation of $31 million.

DragonPass Unveils the Loyalty Index, Redefining What Loyalty Means for Today’s Consumers

DragonPass offers digitally enabled airport and travel services, offering access to over 1,400 airport lounges, 200 Fast Track lanes, 508 dining benefits, and 1000+ fitness studios across Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Asia, and other premium travel experiences.

The company announced the launch of the GCC findings from its Loyalty Index, part of a broader global benchmark study designed to understand how consumers perceive, engage with, and derive value from loyalty programmes around the world. The report cites Transactional Rewards, Trust, and Recognition as the three “loyalty languages” shaping consumer behavior in GCC markets.

BOE Working on Direct Retail Payments from Banks, Sidestepping Cards

The Bank of England is working on a payment system that allows consumers to pay retailers out of their bank accounts without using cards, a move that could lower costs for retailers and consumers, the central bank’s deputy governor of financial stability said Monday.

UK authorities are focusing on three enhancements they want in the next generation of retail payments in the kingdom: 1) account-to-account payment option in-store and online; 2) seamless exchange of traditional and tokenized money; and 3) improved cross-border retail payments that are faster and cheaper than the current system.

TikTok’s Recent Outage Forecasts the Future of Tech’s Fragility and Trust Deficit

TikTok’s U.S. service ground to a halt last week as result of an epic winter storm that knocked out power at an Oracle-operated data center. How TikTok responded and communicated with disrupted users says a lot about the future of the digital world.

This article treats the implications of consumer relationships with platforms that have become cultural arteries, and discusses how ready are we for technology that modern life increasingly relies on.

Would you Pay to Use WhatsApp? You May Not Have a Choice

Meta Platforms will begin testing paid subscription plans across WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook in the coming months, as it looks to monetize advanced features and artificial intelligence tools.

A Meta spokesperson confirmed the plans, saying the subscriptions are designed to “unlock more productivity and creativity.” As part of the subscription rollout, Meta plans to scale its newly acquired suite of general AI agents developed under Manus, a Singapore-based AI startup founded in China, acquired by Meta in December for a reported $2 billion.

Loyalty Academy Brasil Highlights Financial & Liability Management

We wanted to make sure you saw this video discussion on the topic of financial loyalty, involving traditional and digital banks, credit card companies, acquirers, insurance companies, consulting firms, and much more.

The content is produced by Loyalty Academy Brasil, the Exclusive Education Partner for The Loyalty Academy in Brasil.

International Loyalty Awards Update

The excitement for the International Loyalty Awards is building and you are invited to join the festivities in Atlanta on April 29-30, 2026. There has been an incredible range of submissions, showcasing loyalty programs and initiatives from across every continent.

2026 promises to be a landmark year for the loyalty community as Loyalty Connect Global expands to bring the world’s loyalty leaders together at major global hubs: Dubai and the United States.

New Loyalty Roles Available

Ebbo is seeking a results-oriented Director of Business Development who will be an integral member of its team. To learn more and apply, please navigate here.

Engage People has an opening for a Client Director, Client Success. Please visit this link to learn more and apply if interested.

Baesman is seeking to add a Strategic Manager, Loyalty. Read the job description and apply here.

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