Exclusive survey data reveals how the path to purchase for online food delivery from restaurants is evolving across Latin America, highlighting shifting consumer behavior, key players, and the trends shaping the regional market in 2026.

The retailer now offers delivery in 30 minutes or less in select US markets.

Verified transactions and young users give it an edge as CMOs rethink spend.

Cash App and Square stand to pick up volume from Uber ridership and Uber Eats deliveries.

Shoppers can enlist couriers to return unwanted items and receive instant refunds—for a price.

The delivery platform’s limited pilot aims to test consumer appetite and cost efficiencies.

Square’s deep bench of partners offers SMBs more integrated tools to push their businesses forward.

McDonald's leads all US food and grocery sites and apps with 57 million unique visitors, outpacing DoorDash (52.8 million) and nearly doubling the top traditional grocer Kroger (31.3 million), according to November 2025 data from Comscore.

Revenues jumped 30% YoY as consumers’ takeaway habits solidified.

Humor and celebrity now dominate Super Bowl ads; brands now favor memeable, star-driven comedy as safer attention drivers and a chance at social-media virality.

A free myDG Delivery offer is part of a bigger ecommerce and media play.

Digital grocery has evolved from a pandemic-era convenience to a core retail channel. More than 90% of US consumers now shop for groceries both online and in-store, according to FMI and NielsenIQ. As the channel matures, the competitive battleground shifts from basic fulfillment to AI-powered personalization, retail media monetization, and seamless omnichannel experiences. This FAQ addresses the trends, players, and strategies shaping digital grocery in 2026.

Convenience continues to outweigh cost savings for many shoppers, driving strong growth across the grocery delivery market. Instacart led the sector in Q3 with a 14% increase in orders and a 10% rise in gross transaction value, while Uber and DoorDash also posted solid gains. As online grocery adoption accelerates, Instacart is doubling down on affordability through price parity and loyalty integrations to counter economic pressures. Convenience remains a powerful growth driver, but its durability will depend on how effectively delivery platforms balance ease with value as consumers grow more price-conscious.

Kroger and Uber are joining forces to expand their audiences and attract more incremental spending. Kroger customers will be able to order restaurant delivery—fulfilled by Uber—from the grocer’s website and app. Starting next year, Uber Eats users will be able to order groceries from Kroger’s 2,600-plus stores. Partnering with third-party delivery platforms offers pure-play grocers such as Kroger an opportunity to level the playing field with mass competitors like Walmart and Amazon. Deals like the one between Kroger and Uber will likely become more common as retailers look to reach high-intent shoppers and delivery platforms race to keep their competitors at bay.

Grubhub is partnering with Instacart to power its grocery ordering as the Wonder Group-owned platform works to better compete with DoorDash and Uber. Instacart will manage fulfillment and delivery through its 1,000-plus retail network, marking the first time its grocery experience is embedded in another app. The deal expands Instacart’s reach to Grubhub’s urban, suburban, and college users while helping Grubhub diversify into grocery and pharmacy delivery. As rivals deepen partnerships and retail media strategies, both companies aim to boost order volume and ad revenues, leveraging collaboration to counter intensifying competition in the delivery market.

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.

DoorDash unveiled a host of features designed to make its services stickier for both businesses and customers. DoorDash’s fulfillment updates position the platform as a stronger partner for the many retailers trying to keep pace with Amazon and Walmart on delivery speed. At the same time, the company’s latest features show the pressures of competing with Uber and Instacart, both of which are adding more retailers to their platforms while courting customers with broader perks.

Uber Eats will offer customers weekly discounts on fresh groceries in markets worldwide as it looks to become a top destination for grocery shopping. Fierce competition between Uber and other delivery platforms, as well as Amazon and Walmart, is making grocery delivery more affordable, which is in turn driving online grocery adoption. By offering weekly discounts, Uber is hoping to turn occasional shoppers into regulars—and grow its small share of grocery spending into a much larger one.

Restaurants face shifting consumer behavior, tighter household budgets, and rapid advances in technology. This report provides the latest data on restaurant traffic, delivery, mobile engagement, and technology adoption.

Demand for food delivery strengthened in Q2, DoorDash and Uber said, as more customers become used to ordering restaurant meals and groceries online. Order frequency on Uber’s delivery platform reached all-time highs during the quarter, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in prepared remarks, while volumes and profitability for the unit also hit record levels. Delivery bookings jumped 20% YoY, while revenues surged 25%. DoorDash also broke records, with total orders (up 20% YoY), marketplace GOV (up 23%), and revenues (up 25%) all surpassing previous quarterly highs. Food delivery is one area that is so far immune to uncertainty—a sign that consumers are increasingly wedded to services that offer convenience, and are willing to pay a premium (or at least a membership fee) to get food and other goods delivered quickly to their doors.