The big role that youth sports plays in the lives of many US families gives retailers a unique chance to connect with shoppers.

Quick-service chains are experimenting with beverage-focused spinoffs to tap into evolving consumer tastes and strengthen sales. Chick-fil-A has launched Daybright Coffee, while Taco Bell is expanding its Live Más Café concept to 30 locations by year’s end. With the US nonalcoholic beverage market projected to hit $178.1 billion, the category’s appeal is clear—but success for large brands remains uncertain. McDonald’s ended its CosMc’s test after gleaning key menu insights, choosing to integrate the best-performing items into existing stores, a move that signals a more sustainable approach to beverage innovation.

Drone delivery is finally taking flight in the US, with major quick-service chains launching pilot programs to test airborne burrito and chicken deliveries. Uber Eats and Flytrex plan drone pilots by late 2025, while Dave’s Hot Chicken, Chipotle, and GoTo Foods are running tests across California and Texas with partners like Matternet, Zipline, and Wing. Looser regulations and better tech are driving momentum, though most efforts remain small-scale. Still, even if drone delivery doesn’t revolutionize logistics, the buzz positions these brands as forward-thinking innovators gaining valuable PR lift.

Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) are no longer seen primarily as budget-friendly dining. Just 14% of consumers view them as a good value, while nearly a quarter (23%) now consider them a treat or reward, per consumer insights platform Zappi. That’s a notable shift for a category long associated with affordability. That helps explain why nearly a third (31%) of US adults have cut back spending on fast food. As inflation erodes fast food’s traditional value proposition, QSRs must sharpen their brand strategy or risk alienating diners. Brands that lean into indulgence and novelty can help position meals as a “treat,” while doubling down on affordability with compelling promotions and budget-friendly meal deals can reengage price-sensitive consumers.

Consumers are eating at home more often: Cooking is on the rise as shoppers look to save.

US ad spending is projected to grow 6.8% next year, surpassing $400 billion, according to EMARKETER’s forecast. Despite robust ad spending growth, AI tools, advancements in attribution, and cautious consumer behavior will add complexity for the latter half of 2024.

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.

How are consumers adapting to digital dining tools designed to make ordering and delivery more convenient? Are they embracing restaurant apps, delivery platforms, and digital ordering kiosks?

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.

Restaurants are investing in AI and unified commerce to enhance personalization and the customer experience.

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.

Food delivery apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and SkipTheDishes—a Winnipeg-based homegrown competitor to the US-based services—had already established a foothold before the pandemic. The greater need for delivery last year elevated their influence in food service, even though the fees they charge have raised concerns in the restaurant industry and for regulators.

What once sounded fantastical—stores where shoppers could walk out with purchases without waiting in line—is becoming a reality for more than a select few.

Loyalty programs are a natural way to collect first-party data, but they suffer from low activity due to consumer dissatisfaction. We examine can be done to deliver rewards to customers and the marketers running the programs.