Week beginning August 8th - Loyalty cards

In planning for Kaffeine, we talked for a long while amongst ourselves and also with very respected and knowledgeable people from the industry about loyalty cards and whether we would introduce them. Ultimately, as some people may be aware, we decided not to.

A number of people we spoke to felt they were a nuisance to carry around, others felt a bit cheap when asking for it, others really liked them. Others told me of rip off schemes in cafes that they had worked in involving loyalty cards. It was not an easy decision to make.

We still occasionally get asked if we have them, or are told that we should have them, but our answer is exactly what we have said from the start and that is that we like to look after our customers in other ways other than a loyalty card.

For example, in our first Christmas we gave away Keep Cups to over 150 of our regular customers with a personal Kaffeine Christmas card. Our second Christmas we gave away 150 of our own home made jams.

The managers here also know to look after our regular customers with an occasional free cake or coffee or we test new cakes or biscuits with other regulars. I personally try very hard to give a free Portuguese tart, a friand or a biscuit to regulars when I am able to. More often than not, that customer says no, please allow me to pay.

We also try very very hard to provide great service, excellent food and amazing coffee, which I hope is a reason for people to keep coming back as well.

What I do wonder is, if you go to your local pub once, twice or three times a week, perhaps buying up to ten drinks in that period, what do they do to keep you loyal?
I am yet to hear of a pub loyalty card system.

What other food/beverage industries have loyalty cards and does it work for them I wonder?

If anyone has any feedback or points to raise, I am more than happy to listen.

In the meantime, our menu is up for this week and Damson Plums are in season and in our muffins. Yum.


Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00

Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70

Baked Treats
Damson Plum muffins 1.80
Tomato, parsley, lemon and cheese savoury muffins 1.80
Cherry friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Afgan biscuits 1.60

Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Italian roast ham with red currants, brie, basil and spinach
Smoked salmon with cream cheese, capers, dill, lemon, red onion and spinach

French retro baguettes 4.50
Roast courgettes marinated in mint with feta, crushed peas and spinach
Italian roast ham with dijon, gruyere, gherkin, red onion and rocket

Salads £4.50/£5.50
Mixed tomatoes with pancetta, toasted fennel seeds, parmesan
Quinoa with roasted olives and tomatoes, cucumber, cashew and orange
Green beans with peanuts, chilli, lemon and soy

Tart £4.00 or £6.50 with salad
Fennel gratin