The Cheesecake Factory Debuts First Mobile App with Rewards Program Incentive
The Cheesecake Factory has officially launched its first mobile app, delivering on its commitment to roll it out in early 2026. To encourage adoption, Cheesecake Rewards members who download and log in to the app by April 30 can receive a free slice of cheesecake with any purchase. The launch reflects the company’s effort to enhance the customer experience while adding more value to its relatively new loyalty program.
The Cheesecake Factory Founder and CEO, David Overton, said, “The Cheesecake Factory is very pleased to introduce an app including a special offer for Cheesecake Rewards members. The app will provide all our guests a more seamless online ordering experience, and our Rewards members will enjoy additional benefits like easily making online reservations and keeping track of their rewards in one convenient place.”
The app, available on major app platforms, is designed to streamline the dining experience. Users can make reservations, browse the menu, place pickup orders, and quickly reorder past favorites. It also allows members to track rewards, view order history, and receive notifications about special offers and updates, creating a more convenient and connected experience for guests. The rollout follows the company’s introduction of its loyalty program in 2023 and a recent shift toward more personalized rewards, which have already boosted member engagement.
Learn more about The Cheesecake Factory rewards program here.
Ulta Beauty Expands Store Fulfillment Network with AI-Driven Strategy
Ulta Beauty significantly expanded its e-commerce fulfillment capabilities in fiscal year 2025 by doubling the number of U.S. stores participating in its ship-from-store program. More than 1,000 locations now handle online orders, up from roughly 500 the previous year. This growth was driven in part by the rollout of an AI-powered order management system, which helped optimize fulfillment efficiency and scale operations across its retail footprint.
While Ulta maintained the same number of regional distribution centers and other fulfillment facilities, the company is actively building a new distribution center in the Northwest to further improve delivery speed and network capacity. This strategy reflects a broader retail trend of using physical stores as fulfillment hubs, similar to approaches taken by Walmart and Target, both of which have leaned heavily on store-based fulfillment to support e-commerce growth.
The expansion comes alongside strong financial performance. Ulta reported a fourth-quarter sales increase of 11.8% to $3.9 billion and full-year revenue growth of 9.7% to $12.4 billion in fiscal 2025. Looking ahead, the company expects continued momentum, projecting net sales growth of 6% to 7% in fiscal 2026, along with modest gains in comparable sales.
Learn more about Ulta’s fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results here.
AI Adoption Surges as Americans Balance Innovation with Trust
TD Bank’s latest U.S. AI Insights Report shows that artificial intelligence has reached a turning point, with widespread daily use becoming the norm. About 78% of Americans now use AI-enabled tools, and two-thirds say their proficiency has improved over the past year. Adoption spans all generations, led by Gen Z, but extending strongly across Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers, highlighting how deeply AI has integrated into everyday life.
TD Bank U.S. Head of Analytics, Intelligence, & AI, Tex Paris, said, “What this year’s data makes clear is that Americans are not resisting AI, they’re redefining the role they want it to play. They want speed and simplicity, but they still expect people to be accountable for the outcomes. That expectation is shaping how we design and deploy AI across the bank.”
The report also reveals a sharp increase in AI use for personal finance, rising from just 10% last year to 55% today. Younger generations are leading this shift, though usage continues to grow across all age groups. Despite this rapid adoption, comfort levels with AI-driven financial tasks—such as budgeting or saving—have remained steady, suggesting that while people are using AI more, their confidence in it is evolving more gradually. Trust remains the key factor shaping how consumers want AI applied. Most Americans prefer a hybrid approach where AI enhances efficiency, but humans remain accountable, especially for complex financial decisions. While many trust AI to provide reliable information, far fewer are comfortable letting it act independently in high-stakes situations. Overall, consumers value transparency, security, and human oversight, signaling that the future of AI in finance will depend on balancing innovation with trust.
Read the report here.
Original Article Links:
Cheesecake Factory launches app
Ulta doubled store fulfillment capabilities in 2025
Nearly 80% of Americans use AI Tools but Most Still Want Humans Making Financial Decisions, TD Survey Finds