Loyalty360 Reads: February 26 | Burger King’s New Look Edges Out McDonald’s, Home Depot and Macy’s Expect Pandemic Trends to Continue; and More

Burger King’s New Look Edges Out McDonald’s, New Poll Shows
AdAge.com says that McDonald’s and Burger King kicked off 2021 with new looks, and while McDonald’s remains the market leader by a wide margin, an early survey shows Burger King’s fresh packaging design edging out an overhaul announced last week by McDonald’s.

Fifty-four percent of respondents said they preferred Burger King’s packaging, while 46% chose McDonald’s, according to an Ad Age-Harris Poll survey conducted this month. And 56% said Burger King’s new look made the food look more appetizing, while 44% picked McDonald’s as having the more appetizing design.
 
Home Depot, Macy’s Expect Pandemic Trends to Continue, for Now
The Wall Street Journal reports that Home Depot Inc. and Macy’s Inc. said pandemic-fueled shopping trends have continued into 2021, driving demand for home improvements and home goods. Executives at both chains also said consumer spending could shift in the second half of the year depending on the course of the health crisis.

The two retailers have been on opposite sides of the Covid-19 pandemic. Home Depot’s revenue increased 20% in the company’s latest fiscal year as Americans spent more time—and money—fixing and renovating their homes. Annual sales at Macy’s tumbled nearly 30% as consumers bought less apparel for going outside, including to work.
 
Walgreens Adds Another On-Demand Delivery Partner
Walgreens is launching its third partnership with a major online delivery platform in less than a year, according to ChainStoreAge.com.

The drugstore giant is offering tens of thousands of products, including over-the-counter medications, health and wellness, beauty and personal care, household essentials, and convenience products, for delivery via Instacart in as fast as an hour to customers in Illinois. The company plans to roll out the service to all of its nearly 8,000 stores in the 50 U.S. states over the coming weeks.
 
AutoZone Incentivizes AutoZoners To Get A COVID-19 Vaccine
AutoZone announced an incentive to encourage AutoZoners to get a COVID-19 vaccine. AutoZoners will receive an additional $100 after completing their COVID-19 vaccination. To date, AutoZone has invested more than $125 million to help AutoZoners deal with the challenges caused by COVID-19.

“The health and safety of AutoZoners, customers, and the communities we proudly serve is our top priority,” said Bill Rhodes, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Customer Satisfaction.
 
Covid-19 Shopping Makes Card Fees a Bigger Burden for Merchants
Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. are planning to raise swipe fees for some types of credit-card purchases in April, the Wall Street Journal reports, adding to the squeeze felt by restaurants, retailers and other merchants already struggling through the Covid-19 pandemic.

What’s more, customers’ switch to online shopping during the pandemic—a trend heralded for keeping businesses afloat when people are reluctant to venture inside stores—is also creating extra costs for merchants. Swipe fees, which merchants pay when a customer pays by card, are often higher on online purchases.
 
 

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