Chipotle Offers Summer Loyalty Program Chiptopia

If you love Chipotle Mexican Grill (and eat there often), you’ll definitely be happy this summer. The popular, fast-casual Mexican restaurant is launching its first ever loyalty program, Chiptopia — but just from July 1 to September 30. Pick up a Chiptopia Card at any participating location and start your journey toward three rewards levels each month — Mild, Medium and Hot. (You can also sign-up for a digital card for use on your mobile device.) The card must be registered online for reward redemption. (As an added bonus, after registration, earn a FREE order of guacamole and chips with your first qualifying purchase.) Each purchase of, at least, $6 (before tax) is required to earn a FREE entrée and other rewards — alcohol and other exclusions apply. The Chipotpia Card is not a gift card. You can pay by cash, credit card or a Chipotle gift card in the program. You just need to present your Chiptopia card for each transaction, no matter how you pay. For more details, including how to earn FREE catering for 20 people, read on…After just four purchases, you earn a FREE entrée and Mild Status. Even more delicious, your FREE entrée counts toward the next level — so you only have to make three more purchases to earn another FREE entrée and reach Medium Status. The same rule applies to the next level, too, so you only have to make two purchases to earn yet another FREE entrée and reach Hot Status. (To simplify it, for a total of nine purchases, you earn three FREE entrées and reach the highest level, each month.) After reaching Hot Status in a particular month, additional purchases in that same month will not count toward any further status levels or accrual of any additional rewards. For a full breakdown of Status Levels, click here.

Note: Only one purchase of, at least, $6 counts toward earning rewards per day. Therefore, a purchase of $12 will only earn one credit. Two separate $6 purchases in a single day, again, will only earn one credit. As a result, for maximum benefit, it makes sense for each person to have their own Chiptopia Card for families or groups making multiple purchases in a single day on a regular basis.

At the end of each month, your account resets back to the bottom. It get better because you can earn bigger rewards overall, if you reach levels each month in July, August and September. Earn Mild Status each month and earn another FREE entrée. Earn Medium Status each month and earn $20 in Chipotle merchandise. Finally, earn Hot Status each month and earn catering for 20 people — valued at $240.

As seasoned bargain hunters, we did the math and earning the big prize is a great deal, if you keep your purchases to a minimum. To earn the catering reward, a customer would need to make a total of 27 purchases — nine each month. If each of those purchases is kept at or near the minimum $6 purchase requirement, you would spend a total of about $162 (without tax.) If the catering reward is valued at $240, those customers reaching all levels each month and spending the minimum amount, make a “profit” of about $80. We think it would be fun to use the catering for an office party and be a big hit with your co-workers for a day. You could also use it for a birthday or holiday party. (The catering reward expires March 31, 2017.)

For maximum benefit and value, it’s definitely worth reaching Hot Status each month — especially if you eat at Chipotle anyway on a regular basis. In total, you would earn 10 FREE entrées, $20 in Chipotle merchandise and a catering party for 20 (valued at $240.) By our calculations, it’s about $320 worth of freebies…count us in! MHOTC Tip: If you’re a really committed bargain hunter, buy Chipotle gift cards at King Soopers or Safeway and earning 2x fuel points at the same time.

For complete program details, click here.