As 2020 continues to unfold with a series of unfortunate events, Dunkin' Donuts is bringing back its pumpkin-flavored donuts and coffee earlier than ever before. The brand is aiming to restore certainty and comfort to consumers in a year that’s been riddled with the opposite.

A growing awareness of fake news and the proliferation of sponsored posts on social media has seen the trustworthiness and authenticity of online influencers come into question. How are established experts, nano-influencers, and CGI characters rebuilding confidence and digital relevance?

Travis Scott is collaborating with McDonald's, and his super-fans are eating it up. For a limited time, the fast-food chain will serve a 'Travis Scott Meal’ on its menu, creating a new connection between fans and their beloved star by giving them a taste of his favorite fast-food order.

Branded merchandise was once solely found at business conventions and in the wardrobes of fervent fans, but it’s enjoying a renaissance as Gen Yers and Zers seek new ways of expressing their identity. What does this resurgence reveal of the shifting nature of consumer-brand relationships?