Digital grocery sales are growing again across Western Europe as inflation forces higher spending, click and collect gains momentum, and mobile loyalty schemes come to the fore. ​

Sales fulfilled via click and collect are growing faster than total ecommerce sales in the UK as cash-strapped consumers avoid delivery costs and retailers race to make their services faster, cheaper, and more efficient.

The days of heady growth are over for rapid grocery startups: The once-frothy sector is now down to a handful of players and facing steep competition from Uber and Doordash.

Economic conditions will have a huge effect on the retail, media, and marketing industries in 2023. For companies to succeed, the cost-conscious consumer must be front and center.

Ultrafast delivery app downloads exploded worldwide during the pandemic. The top 10 apps in this space were downloaded 23.1 million times collectively in Q1 2022, according to Apptopia. Getir leads by a wide margin, ahead of rivals like Gopuff and Gorillas.

The rumors of rapid grocery’s demise are exaggerated—but not by much: While startups struggle to make the model profitable, Uber Eats and DoorDash see an opportunity.

A proposed rule would make it easier to reclassify gig workers as employees: That could have severe repercussions for DoorDash, Amazon, Uber, and countless others that rely on the gig economy.

Europe’s startup slaughterhouse: After pandemic-era fattening, inflation, war, and an energy crisis have triggered a pullback in startup investment. Wintertime natural gas supplies and hiring are key indicators to watch.

A flurry of forces is changing how consumers eat and drink: Rising grocery costs, shifting work patterns, and practical considerations are causing people to adjust their dining habits.

Despite rapid grocery’s well-documented struggles, companies continue to invest in the space: Retailers see value in quick commerce even as Gorillas, Jokr, and others scale back their ambitions.

Food delivery platforms in China struggle to maintain their pandemic gains: As consumers venture out to restaurants and stores, platforms like MissFresh and Meituan are looking for new ways to keep customers on the platform.

Despite market uncertainty, rapid delivery is becoming a fact of life: Tesco, Albertsons, and Publix are some of the retailers inking deals with delivery platforms to offer quick fulfillment, while quick commerce startup Zepto is raking in cash from investors.

Gopuff’s labor challenges underscore the dark side of rapid delivery: The company is likely trying to cut costs ahead of a potential IPO but must contend with increased government scrutiny and worker activism.

Instacart’s delivery ambitions extend beyond grocery: Ahead of a potential IPO, the grocery delivery giant expands its product offerings to include prepared food delivery.

Online grocery startups face fierce competition and other growing pains: Venture capitalists have poured billions into these fast-delivery companies, but their success is far from guaranteed.

Instacart delays IPO plans to focus on broadening services: The company believes it may generate as much as $10 billion to $20 billion in annual revenues from its retail media network in the coming years.

Gorillas’ $1 billion raise underscores the market opportunity for last-mile and fast grocery services: The US and EU markets are both heating up, putting pressure on Amazon and Instacart—but is the category sustainable?