Winning Hungry Customers: How Quick-Service Restaurants (QSRs) Can Thrive with Programmatic Advertising
Serve the Right Ads at the Right Time
Writer: Luis Reyes
Date: January 9, 2025
You’re heading out for a quick bite on a busy Friday night, craving a new local spot. Maybe it’s that burger place you’ve seen ads for or the new Mediterranean place your friends have been raving about. Like most diners these days, you pull out your phone, search for reviews, check the menu, and find a restaurant that hits the spot.
In today’s competitive landscape, quick-service restaurants (QSRs) are racing to win customers’ attention at the exact moment they are making their restaurant selections. Simpli.fi’s advanced programmatic advertising solutions ensure that your brand reaches hungry audiences across all devices—whether they’re searching, scrolling, or planning their next meal.
Programmatic tactics like Addressable Geo-Fencing, Keyword Search Retargeting, and Competitor Conquesting are helping QSRs drive foot traffic, boost sales, and maximize campaign ROI.
THE PROOF IS IN THE DOUGHNUT. KRISPY KREME SERVES UP SUCCESS WITH SIMPLI.FI
CGR Communications, a leading creative agency, partnered with Simpli.fi to drive foot traffic for a Krispy Kreme store opening.

The challenge was clear: How do you generate excitement, drive in-store visits, and ensure your new location becomes a local favorite right out of the gate?
To achieve these goals, Krispy Kreme partnered with CGR Communications and Simpli.fi to deploy a strategic, data-driven campaign using advanced targeting tactics:
- Geo-Fencing: Krispy Kreme built virtual boundaries around nearby high-traffic locations, including coffee shops, retail centers, and grocery stores. By targeting individuals visiting these spots, they ensured their ads reached people most likely to visit their store.
- Keyword Search Retargeting: They also targeted users actively searching for terms like “doughnuts,” “coffee,” and “breakfast spots.” This allowed them to connect with individuals already expressing interest in their product offerings.
The Results:
- 237 in-person visits at a highly efficient $5.51 CPA (Cost Per Action)—well below the $20.00 target.
- A CTR (Clickthrough Rate) of 0.21%, doubling the client’s goal.
This campaign not only drove measurable foot traffic to Krispy Kreme’s new location but also showcased how combining location-based strategies and intent-driven targeting can deliver powerful, tangible results.
For quick-service restaurants (QSRs), this case study highlights the effectiveness of leveraging precise programmatic tactics to engage the right audience at the right time—whether they’re nearby, searching online, or simply looking for their next treat.
WHAT TACTICS LEAD TO QSR SUCCESS?
As seen in the example with Krispy Kreme, having the right targeting makes the world of a difference. To stand out in a crowded market, quick-service restaurants need to reach customers at the right moment and in the right place—whether they’re browsing competitors, researching their next meal, or ready to take action.
With the following Simpli.fi’s advanced programmatic tactics, you can capture attention, drive foot traffic, and turn hungry audiences into loyal customers.
1. Competitor Conquesting: Capture Visitors to Nearby Restaurants
Reach customers visiting competitor restaurants or relevant high-traffic locations like hotels, shopping centers, and offices. Using Simpli.fi’s Geo-Fencing tools, draw precise, custom shapes around these spots to target audiences plus retarget them with messages for up to 30 days.
Why It Works:
- Reach audiences already on the move.
- Present irresistible offers to capture market share.
2. Contextual Targeting: Messages Served in Relevant Content
Seamlessly integrate your ads into content that audiences are already consuming—articles, reviews, or social media feeds. Highlight menu items, specials, or new openings at key decision-making moments without disrupting their experience.
Why It Works:
- Builds awareness in a natural, user-friendly way.
- Captures audience attention while they research where to eat.
3. Household-Level Targeting: Precision at Scale
Use address lists from your loyalty programs or Simpli.fi’s Addressable Audience Curation Tool to reach audiences at the household level. Choose from over 3,000 demographic variables like postal codes, income levels, and metros to drive visits.
No Loyalty Data? No Problem. Build custom audiences with location-based filters to target high-potential neighborhoods.
Why It Works:
- Ensures ads hit the most relevant, high-value audiences.
- Drives loyalty and repeat visits.
4. Reaching Active Searchers: Meet Foodies Where They Are
Capture potential customers actively searching for restaurant-related keywords. Simpli.fi’s Keyword Search Retargeting connects your QSR with customers looking for phrases like:
- “Best burgers near me”
- “Open restaurants now”
- “Coffee shops to-go”
Why It Works:
- Reaches users with high purchase intent.
- Drives immediate decisions to visit or order.
5. Engaging Online Customers: Turn Clicks into Visits
Your website is often the first stop for curious audiences—whether they’re browsing your menu, checking store hours, or searching for nearby locations. By retargeting these visitors with tailored ads, you can remind them to take the next step, whether it’s placing a to-go order, visiting in person, or exploring your latest promotions.
Why It Works:
- Converts passive interest into active engagement.
- Increases digital and physical foot traffic.
PROGRAMMATIC ADVERTISING IS THE SECRET INGREDIENT FOR QSRS
In today’s fast-paced and hyper-competitive market, quick-service restaurants need strategies that deliver precision, flexibility, and measurable results. Programmatic advertising does exactly that—helping QSRs reach audiences at the perfect moment, target with unmatched accuracy, and drive both in-person visits and online orders.
Ready to serve up success? Simpli.fi’s innovative solutions, like Addressable Geo-Fencing and Keyword Search Retargeting, are designed to help you drive foot traffic, maximize ROI, and connect with hungry customers when it matters most.
Don’t just advertise—win your audience. Partner with Simpli.fi and start seeing results today.
Follow us on social media for more advertising insights, explore expert blogs on driving foot traffic and ROI, or take action now by filling out the form below, contacting your Simpli.fi representative, or emailing us at hi@simpli.fi—let’s turn your next campaign into measurable success!
![]() | Luis Reyes Sr. Manager of Content Marketing | Simpli.fi Luis Reyes is a dynamic leader in content marketing, recognized for strategically elevating brand presence and driving impactful results. As the Senior Manager of Content Marketing at Simpli.fi, he leverages extensive expertise gained from previous roles, including Senior Client Success Manager for national advertising agencies and enterprise clients, Marketing Content Creator at a leading healthcare services provider, focusing on brand mergers and project management, and Sales Account Manager at a prominent digital marketing firm, where he secured and managed national and regional digital marketing campaigns along with creative work. His diverse experience and forward-focused approach solidify his status as an authority in today’s competitive marketing landscape. |
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