News Briefs

A new survey sheds light on evolving trends in how shoppers interact with retailers using their mobile devices.

Almost eight-in-10 (78%) mobile-centric consumers say they have made a direct purchase from a brand’s SMS or MMS text message, up from 75% in 2025. The ninth-annual Mobile Consumer Insights study from mobile engagement platform Vibes also indicates 65% of respondents have made this type of purchase within the past year.

For the first time in the nine years Vibes has been conducting this annual survey, respondents prefer redeeming offers via text message more than email and apps. A leading 41% prefer text, 39% email, and only 20% via a brand’s mobile app.

Vibes’ survey also reveals sharp growth in consumer use of mobile wallets for coupons, offers and loyalty cards. Three-quarters (76%) of respondents say they are “much more likely” to engage with brands that provide a mobile wallet option for offers & coupons, up roughly 27% from 60% in 2025. 

Three-in-four respondents also said they are much more likely to engage with a brand that offers a mobile wallet loyalty card, up 24% year-over-year from 57%. In addition, 81% of respondents prefer RCS messaging (rich communications services – a modern texting protocol that supports multimedia content such as high-quality image and video) over traditional SMS messaging.

[READ MORE: How effective are mobile offers?]

"These results tell us that the shift away from mobile apps for transactions is accelerating," said Alex Campbell, Vibes co-founder & CIO. "RCS will only accelerate this faster. Any brand that uses messaging will be well-positioned to shift their focus away from their app, and into the surging RCS messaging and mobile wallet channels."

Vibes surveyed more than 1,100 mobile-centric consumers.

A fast-growing drive-thru coffee chain nearly doubled its footprint in 2025, reaching a store count milestone and debuting a new format.

Arkansas-based 7 Brew ended 2025 with than 600 locations across 38 states, up from 321 outposts at the start of the year, and up from only 14 "stands" in 2019. It started with a single location in Rogers, Ark., in 2017.

In addition to expansion, 7 Brew debuted its first walk-thru location this year, inside a Walmart in Springdale, Ark. It was followed by a walk-thru location at The Ohio State University, which marked its college town debut.  7 Brew says that with the new locations, it hopes to capture new customers in a “fresh format.”

"This has been a monumental year of growth for 7 Brew and it’s a true testament to the one-of-a-kind experience that our customers love," said Chris Dawson, president of 7 Brew. "In one year, we’ve nearly doubled our stand count across the U.S., and we look forward to building upon that momentum even further. With continued expansion, we also remain committed to operational excellence and organizational strength, and are proud of the top-tier talent we’ve welcomed to our executive leadership team this year.”

[READ MORE: 7 Brew taps RBI veteran as CFO]

Founded in 2017, 7 Brew serves espresso-based coffee, Chillers, tea, infused 7 Energy, 7 Fizz Sodas and more. Customers can select from more than 20,000 possible drink variations from the brand’s list of flavored syrups, sweet sauces, milk alternatives and other ingredients.

A Kroger banner is rolling out a new program to help customers achieve their health and wellness goals in the new year.

Harris Teeter has launched its “Happier, Healthier with Harris Teeter” initiative which will span the entire store and include pharmacy expertise, nutrition coaching, a new line of protein-packed items, and more.

"Our customers are looking for ways to improve their overall health and achieve their wellness goals," said Danna Robinson, director of corporate affairs and customer relations for Harris Teeter. "’Happier, Healthier with Harris Teeter’ is designed to equip every customer with the tools and information they need to make smarter, more informed nutrition decisions. By helping people take meaningful steps toward healthier eating, we're making it easier to support their total well-being."

“Happier, Healthier with Harris Teeter” kicks off throughout January with the launch of Harris Teeter's new Simple Truth Protein line (which features high protein, no added sugar, non-GMO and gluten free products), new digital tools that include the FoodHealth Score data, and a free 30-minute virtual visit with a Harris Teeter dietitian for every VIC card household. 

The virtual session will cover healthy eating and meal planning tips, along with trusted wellness support. Dietitians will show how Harris Teeter customers can access and use the new FoodHealth Score in the Harris Teeter app, which scores products based on the nutrient density and quality of ingredients in the food.

[READ MORE: Harris Teeter to expand footprint in three states]

Headquartered in Matthews, N.C., Harris Teeter operates more than 250 stores and 70 fuel centers across the Southeast. It is part of The Kroger Co.’s portfolio of grocers.

Amazon is reportedly scaling back its plans for global expansion of its drone delivery program.

In a statement to Reuters, the online giant cited regulatory issues as a key factor in its decision to halt plans to deliver online orders via drone to Italian customers.

"Following a strategic review, ‌we have decided ⁠to stop our commercial drone delivery plans in Italy," Amazon said in the statement. "Despite positive engagement ‍and progress with Italian aerospace regulators, the broader business regulatory framework in the country does not, at this time, support ⁠our longer-term objectives for this ‌program."

In a response to Amazon’s statement, the Italian civil aviation agency ENAC told CNBC the decision to halt development of drone delivery in Italy was "unexpected" and connected to "recent financial events involving (Amazon)" rather than regulatory issues.

Amazon has been offering drone deliveries of orders in select U.S. markets since 2022, and in January 2025 began an ongoing planning process for initial flights from its fulfillment center in the U.K. city of Darlington. The company previously tested drone delivery in the U.K. in 2016 but never moved beyond pilot stage in that project.

[READ MORE: Amazon preparing for initial U.K. drone deliveries]

In April 2025, Amazon resumed drone deliveries from its Tolleson, Ariz. and College Station, Texas fulfillment facilities following a software update to its latest MK30 drone model, which is used at those sites. The company had decided to temporarily stop drone deliveries in January 2025.

Amazon has set a goal of having drones deliver 500 million packages globally by the end of the decade. 

The end of the penny is proving problematic for retailers.

The Retail Industry Leaders Association is urging lawmakers to prioritize addressing the nation’s ongoing penny circulation problems and swiftly pass legislation addressing the issue when the second session of the 119th Congress begins in January. (Earlier this year, the U.S. Treasury announced plans to end production of the penny, citing cost savings and inefficiencies associated with minting the coin. Production officially ceased this summer.)

Retailers across the country are grappling with significant challenges due to the absence of clear legal guidance regarding the future of the penny, especially on critical matters such as rounding cash transactions, noted RILA. Only Congress can provide the clarity and directives necessary to ensure a smooth transition for both retailers and consumers. 

Without legislative action, the lack of guidance cost the nation’s largest retailers millions of dollars in the midst of the busy holiday shopping season — imposing a rounding fee on retailers at a time when the use of cash as a payment traditionally increases, said Austen Jensen, RILA’s senior executive VP of public affairs.

 “Congress should act quickly to provide the fix needed for retailers and ensure that cash tendered payments aren’t disrupted by the abrupt end of the penny," she continued.

In a RILA survey conducted in November, many of the nation's largest retailers reported widespread shortages. Of the 25 companies surveyed, nearly one-quarter indicated that more than 1,000 of their store locations are currently without pennies. Two-thirds of respondents said they are rounding transactions to the benefit of consumers when pennies are unavailable — a practice that, while fair to shoppers, is costing businesses millions of dollars as small amounts add up across thousands of daily cash transactions. 

This is not an issue that can be left to the states to resolve, according to RILA. Retailers who operate in multiple states need a uniform approach that can only be set by the federal government. RILA urges Congress to move expeditiously and deliver the legal certainty and direction that retailers and their customers depend on. 

Consumers are leaning on artificial intelligence tools to help them find the best prices.

Over 70% of consumers are leveraging or exploring AI to uncover better deals, according to new data from XCCommerce’s 2026 Retail Promotions Study. Ten percent of respondents said that AI tools would make shopping easier and more convenient, while four-in-10 (42%) are open to it only if they maintain control over their preferences.

XCCommerce’s survey found that for most consumers, a discount is the best reason to move forward with a purchase. Eight-in-10 (79%) surveyed shoppers said a percentage or money-off discount makes them most likely to purchase an item, while nearly half (46%) admitted they buy more than planned or try new brands when redeeming an offer. XCCommerce says this highlights the “critical role of incentives” for retailers.

[READ MORE: Bain: How next-gen AI is disrupting the shopping journey]

"Shoppers define a 'good deal' as one that balances quality and price," said Danny Rosenoff, CEO of XCCommerce. “To capitalize on this, retailers must ensure their promotions are not only generous but also flawlessly executed across all touchpoints.”

Additional insights from the survey include the following:

• Three-quarters (75%) of shoppers expect personalization from retailers’ loyalty programs. However, only 13% of respondents cited "the program feels personalized to me" as a primary loyalty driver.
• Valuable savings or rewards (82%) are the top reason for joining a loyalty program.
• More than half (52%) of consumers expressed willingness to share personal data if it results in a better shopping experience.

The full 2026 Retail Promotions Study will be released on Feb. 1, 2026 in partnership with National Retail Federation.