In 2026, the loyalty arms race is shifting from blanket discounts to tiered programs built around frequency, aspiration and smarter economics.
Widespread use of artificial intelligence in marketing promotions ramped up the sense of confusion this April Fools’ Day, a holiday already dedicated to deception and harmless mischief. Emerging trends like purposefully ironic genuine LTOs and complex consumer sentiment around AI-use for generating visuals add to existing levels of uncertainty around promotions at the onset of April.
In response to the rapid growth of gaming culture, McDonald’s Türkiye unveiled a literally game-changing device aimed at meeting their consumers where they already are—with a controller in their hands and a meal splayed out in front of them.
As delivery platforms consolidate globally, restaurants are investing in first-party ordering, loyalty and direct guest relationship.
Landry’s approaches off-prem as one consistent operating model across pickup, delivery and catering, tailored to the needs of each brand in its diverse portfolio.
Uber Eats changed its Market Place fees March 11, marking the first significant change to its tiered commission structure since its launch in 2021. The new commission rates more closely align with those of DoorDash, which have remained largely consistent since 2021
Wonder is scaling off-prem growth through kitchen automation, multi-concept orchestration and tighter delivery visibility.
With sweeping allergen compliance laws taking effect this year in California and New York, menu transparency is poised to be a defining trend for the foodservice industry in 2026, and artificial intelligence is rising to the occasion.
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To help counter sharp price hikes that are broadly impacting fuel costs, Uber introduced mileage-based gas price relief for delivery drivers, available March 30 through May 3. Uber’s Weekly Gas Relief Payments match those offered by DoorDash.
