Giordano’s ties its newest discount to gas prices

Pizza lovers will get at least one benefit from rising gas prices.

The Chicago-based pizza chain Giordano’s is rolling out a new promotion, “Summer Savings – Save a Gallon,” in which loyalty members can get discounts based on the price of a gallon of gas in its hometown.

The discount will be available on any pizza order. Every Monday throughout the summer, the 60-unit chain will update the discount based on the average cost of a gallon of regular gas, according to AAA — it’s about $5.22 right now, for instance.

Nick Scarpino, CEO of Giordano’s, in a statement called the promotion “our way of giving guests a little extra value while still enjoying the pizza traditions they love.”

The offer applies to any order that includes either the chain’s Stuffed Deep Dish, Thin Crust or Tavern-Style pizza, and with a minimum price of $15. The program starts this week.

The promotion is the latest by restaurant chains tied to the rising price of gas, which has damaged consumer confidence and is threatening to weaken traffic during an already difficult market.

Brands such as Subway, Snooze Eatery, Arby’s, Cracker Barrel, and others have tied promotions to gas prices.

The national average price for a gallon of gas was $4.55 as of Friday, according to AAA, holding relatively steady after soaring in March and April. But the summer travel season threatens to send those prices higher in the coming months.

That could hurt industry traffic. Studies from various sources, including Black Box Intelligence and Revenue Management Systems, have found a direct correlation between higher gas prices and weaker industry results. Casual dining brands like Giordano’s are particularly susceptible, as customers shift to lower-priced chains.