Speed and convenience have become the consumer norm. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, when people worldwide were introduced to instant access to goods and services via apps and digital platforms, the supply and demand considerably grew and splintered. The 'I need it now' culture shows no signs of slowing down, ye...

Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

As the cost of living crisis heightens, the UK supermarket chain Waitrose is lowering the prices of its everyday products and making it easier for customers to access them amid tightening household budgets. How are consumers responding to this, and can brands maintain this shift in the long term?

As food prices remain high, Americans are focusing on how to maximize loyalty programs to stretch their dollars. Grocery stores and app-based food retailers are enhancing loyalty programs with noticeable pay-offs for membership fees and special gifts to keep the feeling of splurging alive.

As rising inflation pummels people’s finances and forces some to cut back on food spending, brands are stepping up to remind them that shopping on a budget doesn’t have to mean settling for lower quality. Asda’s Steak Bay pop-up restaurant emphasises the quality of its low-cost yet premium meats.

Asda is lending support to families facing food insecurity over the 2022 summer months by offering £1 meals for kids at its stores. As the cost of living crisis worsens and the end of the school year looms, many families face ‘holiday hunger’ and may struggle to put food on the table.