Top 6 Loyalty Programs in France

In France, loyalty programs have become an essential tool for brands looking to build lasting relationships with customers. Just think, France's loyalty market is forecast to increase from US$5.39 billion in 2023 to reach US$8.58 billion by 2028.

French customer loyalty programs are characterised by rapid evolution, driven by technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and the adoption of personalised and technology-integrated solutions.

In this article, we’ll explore the best loyalty programs in France, their unique features and the reasons behind their success.

How loyalty programs are evolving in France

The loyalty program landscape in France is evolving rapidly, driven by changing consumer behaviours and key market trends, including a growing interest in loyalty, and a focus on sustainability and personalisation.

French loyalty schemes are known for their emphasis on personalised rewards, aligning with the country's growing preference for customised shopping experiences. Tailored rewards and targeted communications enhance customer satisfaction and foster deeper connections, making personalisation a key focus for loyalty programs.

Customer loyalty in France tends to integrate mobile technology and digital platforms so that consumers can easily track their rewards, receive personalised offers, and redeem benefits through mobile apps.

A seamless experience isn’t the only thing customers look for in French loyalty schemes: they are increasingly attracted to brands that demonstrate social responsibility and offer sustainable rewards that align with their values and lifestyle choices.

This is even more relevant for younger generations: both Gen Alpha and Gen Z say that sustainable practices, social impact, and commitment to ethical sourcing are all relevant factors in their purchase decisions.

The best loyalty programs in France tap into customer motivations, rewarding both behaviour and long-term loyalty.

Let’s see our top picks for the best French customer loyalty programs.

Top Loyalty Programs in France

Air France Flying Blue

Air France’s Flying Blue loyalty program is one of the best examples of customer retention in France. It is designed for frequent flyers and offers a comprehensive rewards system based on miles flown.

Members earn Miles for every flight taken with Air France or its partner airlines, and these miles can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, and exclusive services such as priority check-in and baggage handling.

Air France's loyalty program features tiered membership levels, with higher tiers offering additional benefits like extra baggage allowance, lounge access, and more flexible flight options.

If you’re curious about how travel loyalty programs work, you can check out our dedicated guide to loyalty in the travel industry.

How it works:

Members accumulate miles based on the distance travelled and the class of service. They can also earn Experience Miles, which are used to unlock tier levels.

Flying Blue rewards include free ticket upgrades, priority boarding, and access to Air France’s extensive network of airline partners, making this program highly beneficial for frequent travellers.

Benefits:

• Mileage-based rewards: Earn miles for flights, hotel stays, and car rentals.
• Tiered benefits: Higher tiers unlock more premium services.
• Exclusive offers: Access to special promotions, including discounts and bonus miles.

Sephora Beauty Pass

Sephora’s Beauty Pass loyalty program stands out for its personalized rewards system aimed at beauty enthusiasts and is one of the top loyalty programs for French retailers.

This tiered loyalty program offers escalating benefits such as exclusive access to beauty products, personalised discounts, and invitations to special events.

Members can earn points with each purchase, which can be redeemed for a range of Beauty Pass rewards.

How it works:

The program operates on a point system where customers earn Beauty Points with every purchase. These points can be exchanged for a variety of rewards, including product samples, discounts, and event invitations.

Sephora’s program also allows members to accumulate bonus points during seasonal promotions.

Benefits:

• Tiered membership levels: Different levels with increasing rewards, such as free shipping and birthday gifts.
• Personalised rewards: Rewards tailored to a member's beauty preferences.
• Exclusive offers: Early access to sales, product launches, and private events.

Carrefour’s La Carte Carrefour

Carrefour’s La Carte Carrefour is a popular loyalty card in France that offers customers various benefits based on their purchasing behaviour. It’s so popular that it even got included in our 101 of the best loyalty programs.

The program enables Carrefour customers to earn points with every purchase, which can then be exchanged for discounts, coupons, or exclusive offers in-store and online.

How it works:

Carrefour’s loyalty program operates by rewarding customers with points for each purchase made at Carrefour stores or through their online platform.

The points accumulated can be redeemed for coupons that offer discounts on future purchases or be converted into gift cards. The program also features personalised offers based on purchasing habits.

Benefits:

• Discounts and coupons: Earn discounts on everyday products.
• Personalized offers: Custom deals tailored to individual shopping preferences.
• Increased engagement: Offers a more seamless shopping experience across Carrefour’s physical and online stores.

Lidl Plus

Lidl Plus is a digital-based loyalty program that provides rewards through the Lidl loyalty app. It’s a simple, user-friendly program that offers instant discounts, personalized promotions, and tailored coupons for members.

The program is fully integrated into Lidl’s mobile app, which allows customers to easily manage their rewards and claim offers.

How it works:

Lidl Plus loyalty program members use the app to collect stamps with every purchase, which leads to unlocking rewards such as discount vouchers or exclusive offers.

The app also provides personalised offers based on previous purchases, and members can access digital coupons for savings on specific items.

Benefits:

• Instant discounts: Unlock discounts immediately via the app.
• Personalized promotions: Receive targeted deals based on shopping behaviour.
• Convenient app integration: Access all rewards and offers directly through the Lidl Plus app.

FAUCHON Le Club

FAUCHON Le Club is an exclusive loyalty program designed for gourmets and lovers of luxury foods - one of the best luxury loyalty programs in France.

The program focuses on offering personalised rewards for high-end culinary experiences, featuring exclusive access to events, product releases, and gourmet experiences.

Members earn points on purchases, which can then be used for premium rewards, such as private tastings and bespoke gifts.

How it works:

Le Club members earn points for every purchase made at FAUCHON’s luxury boutiques or online store.

These points can be redeemed for gourmet hampers, personalised gifts, or invitations to exclusive food events hosted by FAUCHON. The program is geared towards customers seeking high-end, tailor-made experiences.

Benefits:

• Gourmet rewards: Access to exclusive high-end food products and experiences.
• Personalized services: Exclusive gifts, invitations to tasting events, and custom hampers.
• Member-only perks: Invitations to FAUCHON’s culinary events and previews of new collections.

Boursorama’s Boursoprime

Boursorama, a French online bank part of the Société Générale group, offers a Boursoprime loyalty program aimed at rewarding customers for their engagement with the bank’s products and services.

The program offers financial rewards such as cash bonuses and exclusive banking offers, based on the customer’s activities, such as opening accounts or using credit cards.

How it works:

Boursoprime offers a point-based system where customers earn rewards for banking activities such as making deposits, using financial services, and referring new customers.

These points can be converted into cash rewards, discounted banking services, or premium financial products.

Benefits:

• Cash bonuses: Earn cash rewards for engaging with banking services.
• Exclusive offers: Access to special banking services at discounted rates.
• Referral bonuses: Earn additional rewards by referring new customers to Boursorama.

Customer loyalty is crucial in the fintech industry, but research shows more than 2/3 of consumers say they feel no loyalty to fintech companies.

If you want to find out how to build loyalty in this sector, just like Boursorama is doing, you can check out our ultimate guide to loyalty in the fintech industry.

What you can learn from the best loyalty programs in France

The success of French loyalty programs like Air France’s Flying Blue, Sephora’s Beauty Pass, Carrefour’s La Carte Carrefour, and Boursorama’s Boursoprime demonstrates the power of data-driven, personalized loyalty strategies.

These programs effectively use customer data to offer targeted rewards, exclusive promotions, and tiered benefits that keep customers engaged and loyal. Here’s what you can take away from these successful programs:

1. Personalization is key
   
   Programs like Sephora's Beauty Pass and Carrefour’s La Carte Carrefour excel because they personalize the rewards and experiences for their customers.
   
   By using customer purchasing behavior and preferences, these programs deliver tailored offers that increase customer satisfaction and drive loyalty.
   
   Personalised incentives have been proven to enhance customer retention and lifetime value, as it makes the reward experience more relevant.
   
    
2. Tiered benefits drive engagement
   
   Air France’s Flying Blue offers tiered membership levels, which incentivize customers to engage more frequently with the airline to reach higher levels and unlock exclusive rewards.
   
   A similar model can be found in programs like Sephora, where members enjoy progressively better rewards as they move through different membership levels.
   
   This strategy increases both customer engagement and spend over time, as consumers seek to unlock better rewards.
   
    
3. Embrace technology for convenience
   
   Lidl’s digital-based loyalty program through the Lidl Plus app is a prime example of how brands are leveraging digital platforms to enhance customer engagement.
   
   By offering instant discounts, personalized coupons, and exclusive offers through a mobile app, Lidl makes it easy for customers to participate in the program and access rewards seamlessly.
    
4. Gamification and financial incentives work
   
   Programs like Boursorama’s Boursoprime focus on gamifying the customer experience by offering financial rewards and incentives for completing specific actions, such as opening accounts or engaging with the bank’s services.
   
   A gamified rewards platform creates a sense of achievement and motivates customers to continue using the bank's products.