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Carl’s Jr. Brings Mobile Payment Options to Canada with PayWith

August 17, 2024         By: Steven Anderson

In the film “Idiocracy,” Carl’s Jr. became the fast-food restaurant of choice, famous for a profane slogan, a set of equally profane menu items, and a connection to the federal government so substantial that it could get the Secretary of State to routinely say the phrase “Brought to you by Carl’s Jr.” Now, in Canada, Carl’s Jr. has something else in line: access to a mobile payment system, complete with rewards app.

There are only 16 Carl’s Jr. locations in Canada, reports note, but thanks to a new connection to PayWith, patrons of at least part of that handful of locations will be able to engage in mobile payments right from within the app. Currently available for both iOS and Android, the app will offer payment options as well as a gifting program so that others can enjoy Carl’s Jr. at no charge to them, as well as a rewards program to offer special incentives to those who frequently enjoy Carl’s Jr. fare. Only four locations right now-both Toronto locations as well as Guelph and Waterloo’s-will be able to accept the program, though, but reports suggest that will expand in the next few months.

Using the app is a comparatively standard affair, as users will have to first input contact details as well as credit card information. The system currently accepts American Express, Mastercard and Visa, as well as debit cards. Once the information is in place, users then take their device of choice to a payment terminal, and make payments. Just to sweeten the deal, Carl’s Jr. offers up $10 in initial credit for anyone who joins up. Then, users can start earning rewards based on total amount spent, and hand out gifts as desired.

Reports further suggest that, in short order, the app will be built into Apple Pay and Android Pay, and expectations are for a full launch by the end of the year.

Cinema buffs might well start making jokes about Carl’s Jr.’s new “extra big-ass mobile payments” here, but it’s still a noteworthy idea. It’s the kind of idea that’s fielded impressive results for Starbucks, and recently, we saw Subway take a step into this foray as well. We might well see other fast food chains step in on this one; those that haven’t already, of course, because this is a field that’s been very well-traveled of late. It’s not hard to see why there’s such interest; what better way to build a customer base than with an app that rewards users for their patronage? A robust customer base, and the return business it brings, is key to survival in a hotly-contested environment like fast food, where several competitors can be on hand in the same handful of square miles.

Only time will tell just how well this works or how far this goes, but Carl’s Jr. has definitely entered the fray, and seeks to cement its own position in the face of a changing market stuffed with more competitors than the burgers have meat backed up by the power of mobile payments.