Krystal's Summer Promotion: Scratch-Offs and Vacation Giveaway

Krystal is running its annual Krystalpalooza promotion through Aug. 16. The chain is combining daily app deals with an instant-win scratch-off game. The grand prize is an all-expenses-paid summer vacation.

Club Krystal members get rotating deals available only through the app and online. The scratch-off game runs through July 12. Prizes range from free Krystals and medium drinks to bonus loyalty points and dollar-off rewards. One winner takes the vacation.

Tickets are earned on qualifying orders. Spend $5 or more on any order that includes a Coca-Cola beverage for one guaranteed ticket. Order after 8 p.m. with a $5 minimum for a bonus ticket. Spend $25 or more in a single order for an additional bonus ticket. Guests can earn up to six tickets per day, with a maximum of three per transaction.

Krystal is also adding two limited-time drinks. The Strawberry Shortcake Krush'd Soda adds strawberry and sweet cream to any small or medium fountain drink for $1 more. The Bomb Pop ICEE brings the red, white, and blue frozen treat into the lineup ahead of America's 250th anniversary celebrations. On July 4, guests get a free Bomb Pop ice pop with any in-store purchase while supplies last.

In-store Happy Hour runs daily from 2–5 p.m., with $1 any-size fountain drinks and $1 small ICEEs.

The promotion follows Krystal's new Atlanta Braves partnership and a year of brand recognition gains. QSR Magazine ranked Krystal among its Top 50 Contenders list in 2025. Technomic placed the brand on its Top 500 list. USA Today's 10Best named Krystal a runner-up for Best Fast Food Breakfast after placing in the top ten in 2024.

Krystal operates nearly 300 restaurants across 13 states. The chain has been serving hamburgers on square buns since 1932.

For Krystal, the $5 minimum on scratch-off eligibility means the chain is buying repeat visits at roughly the cost of a single sandwich. The vacation giveaway generates social media buzz at a fixed cost. The daily rotating deals keep the app top-of-mind without permanent discounting. The Bomb Pop ICEE and Strawberry Shortcake Krush'd Soda are limited-time offers that drive trial without committing to a permanent menu addition.

App reliability across 300 locations is a variable. Staff consistency matters. The Bomb Pop ICEE is a seasonal novelty; if it does not move, the slot is wasted. The structure is sound. Krystal is using a fixed-cost promotion (the vacation) to drive variable-cost traffic (the daily deals) with a gamification layer (scratch-offs) that rewards frequency. The Coca-Cola tie-in on scratch-off eligibility is a cross-promotion that costs Krystal nothing.

The after-8 p.m. bonus ticket targets late-night visits, a key daypart for Krystal. The daily rotating deals create a reason to check the app every day. The limited-time drinks test new menu items for potential permanence.

For competitors in the Southeast QSR space, Krystal is investing in app-based loyalty rather than broad discounting. That is a bet on repeat customers over one-time traffic. If it works, expect other regional chains to follow.

Coca-Cola (KO) has an Alpha Score of 61, reflecting moderate positioning in the consumer staples sector. Restaurant Brands International (QSR), which owns Burger King and competes in the same space, has an Alpha Score of 47. The broader stock market analysis page tracks the QSR sector. Krystal is privately held and does not disclose financial results.