Yum! Brands

As we move into 2018, it’s time to look ahead and predict what’s in store, so to speak, as the retail experience continues its evolution to meet a new world of customer needs.

Call it a tale of two pizza chains.

Pizza Hut is the newest chain to be compromised by cyber-thieves.

Fake news. Or, at the very least, over-exaggerated news. That’s what I call the reports about the death of retail. Retail sales are up $121.5 billion (through the first seven months of the year) and the holiday forecasts look promising, with Deloitte predicting a healthy 4 to 4.5% increase over last season.

What happens when a fast-fashion giant crosses a leading fast-food company? For two companies, it spurred a new fashion collection.    Forever 21 and Taco Bell are teaming up to launch an apparel line called The Forever 21 x Taco Bell collection. The line features tops, bodysuits and cropped hoodies for women; a sweatshirt, hoodie and anorak jacket for men, and graphic tees, a pullover and hoodie for girls. All merchandise features each brand’s iconic graphics highlighted by a mix of vibrant prints and colors.  

A new restaurant concept gives customers an easy — and high-tech way — to pay for their meal without having to take out their wallet or even their smartphone.  

Face-to-face human contact is not necessary for a brand to make a strong connection with consumers.   

Pizza Hut is making big moves to improve the accuracy and reliability of its delivery experience.   The subsidiary of Yum! Brands plans to hire nearly 3,000 new drivers a month through the end of the year. The hiring effort, which will include full and part-time positions, will add approximately 14,000 new drivers across its delivery fleet, according to the company.