The nation’s largest fast- food chains race to the bottom: Taco Bell and Sonic joined Starbucks, McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s in rolling out low-cost value meals to attract cost-conscious consumers.
US consumers keep spending: Better-than-expected results from Abercrombie, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Cava demonstrate that shoppers are willing to splurge on some nice-to-have items.
41% of US restaurant operators are planning to use AI for sales forecasting and scheduling, while 33% are using the tech for personalized marketing, according to December 2023 data from Restaurant365.
“The restaurant industry is still reeling from the impact of the pandemic,” our content director Becky Schilling said on an episode of “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast. On top of that, inflation and economic uncertainty has made for a tough four years. In face of these persisting challenges, restaurants are turning to AI and unified commerce solutions to improve the customer experience, build loyalty, and supercharge personalization.
On today's podcast episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss why the restaurant industry is facing another year of uncertainty and how restaurants are boosting loyalty. Then, for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank the top restaurant loyalty programs. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analyst Blake Droesch and senior director of media content Becky Schilling.
Instacart and Uber team up to keep DoorDash at bay: Instacart hopes the deal will protect its grocery business and widen consumer appeal, while Uber looks for new customers.
Inflation is on the rise and the competition for consumer dollars is heating up between restaurants and retailers. Here are five insights into how consumers are purchasing their food as prices continue to rise.
QSR customers focused on value in Q1: The common thread in the earnings of Starbucks, McDonald’s, Yum Brands, and Restaurant Brands International is that consumers are feeling jittery.
Operating costs are on the rise, prices are going up, and consumers are pulling back.
Nano-influencers reign on Instagram with a 6.23% engagement rate: TikTok's top influencers, meanwhile, maintain a 4.95% rate.
Discover the dynamic shift toward digital wallets in the US and the UK in the latest podcast episode of "Behind the Numbers: The Banking & Payments Show." Delve into the compelling discourse on how younger generations' move to digital is rendering traditional wallets obsolete. Join host Rob Rubin, our US-based analyst Tyler Van Dyke, and UK-based analyst Carina Perkins as they unravel trends in digital transactions for dining, shopping, and ID verification. In the "For Argument's Sake" section, we dissect the fierce competition for market dominance among industry giants like Apple and Google, established players like PayPal, rising star Paze, and potential disruptors. Tune in for a forward-looking conversation and hit subscribe for the latest insights. Key insights: - Youth-led shift: Analysis reveals a robust trend among younger consumers pivoting to digital wallets for everyday activities, indicating a cultural and technological shift. - Market dominance debate: We uncover the strategic moves by tech titans and emergent challengers vying to capture the largest share of digital wallet users. - Cross-Atlantic perspectives: Insights from US and UK analysts present a diverse view on the adoption of digital wallets, offering a broader understanding of the global digital economy.
The holiday season is a high-traffic time for quick-service restaurants (QSRs). For QSR marketers, adjusting ad strategies to focus closely on optimization and real-time measurement is crucial in order to capitalize on the lucrative, but brief holiday period.
Retailers can learn a lot from quick-service restaurants in delivering a satisfying customer experience. Chipotle leverages first-party data for more personalized and predictive offers, while Sweetgreen experiments with new formats and technologies to provide a more omnichannel experience. Plus, Starbucks has proven that brand loyalty can go a long way even when making changes.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss how Netflix's ad business is coming along; the streaming giant's first live sports broadcast; and its new retail, dining, and live experience destinations. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Daniel Konstantinovic.
To build loyalty, brands first need to establish a foundation of trust by delivering on the basics. From there, brands can use subscription programs to ramp up purchase frequency and social media to engage with brand advocates. But to keep customers coming back, brands need to be constantly optimizing. Here’s some advice from executives at DoorDash and Taco Bell on how to build brand loyalty and what it takes to retain a loyal customer base.
Peacock expands its reach beyond the home: Exclusive live sports to be shown in commercial venues, diversifying audience and increasing brand visibility.
DoorDash’s grocery business is booming, and Instacart is leaning on advertising to tide it over as its delivery volumes are down. Perhaps taking a cue from both, Uber Eats continues to add non-restaurant delivery partners while also building out its advertising platform.
Domino’s will soon list its menus on Uber Eats and Postmates: The pizza company sees the apps as a means to drive incremental revenues.
It partnered with FreedomPay and Marriott as part of a wider shift to grow volume by focusing on payments for bigger restaurant and hospitality brands.
DoorDash and Uber Eats deliver solid results: That’s thanks to their strong customer retention, which will prove important if the economy worsens.