tiergain
Gift-with-purchase for food stores in 2026
A 10% discount on a $14 jar is $1.40. A free sample jar of a new flavor feels like a $14 gift. Same cost, different reaction.
+$16
Average cart lift from free sample jar at $49
28%
AOV lift from tiered food gift thresholds
42%
Of sample recipients reorder the new flavor
Food samples are the original gift-with-purchase. Every free jar you give away is an introduction to a SKU they will reorder.
The hacks
Free sample jar at the first spending threshold
Spend $49, get a free 4oz sample of the new flavor. The sample costs you $4 and 42% of recipients add the full-size to their next order.
Tiered gift ladder: sample, recipe card set, bonus jar
Spend $49: free sample. Spend $69: sample + printed recipe card set. Spend $89: sample + recipes + full-size bonus jar. Tiergain stacks gifts progressively at each tier.
Mystery flavor as the top-tier gift
A mystery flavor creates anticipation that a known flavor cannot. Customers stretch to hit the threshold because the unknown feels more valuable than a specific item.
Bundle-triggered gift for variety pack orders
Order any 5-item variety pack, get a free snack bar or seasoning packet. The gift is tied to the bundle, not the cart value. Tiergain triggers gifts on bundle completion.
Seasonal gift rotation for food stores
Summer: free lemonade mix. Fall: free pumpkin spice blend. Winter: free hot cocoa pack. Rotating the gift keeps the threshold offer fresh for returning customers.
Free shipping combined with free gift at one threshold
Spend $69: free shipping + free sample jar. Stacking two rewards at one threshold is more powerful than splitting them across two thresholds. The double reward feels like a windfall.
Track which sample flavors drive the most reorders
Not all samples convert equally. Track which free flavors lead to full-size purchases within 30 days. Double down on the winners. Kill the ones that get eaten once and forgotten.