March 27, 2020 Update

Supermarket, Grocery & C-Store

• 7‑Eleven Inc. said it expects in the coming months to hire as many as 20,000 new store employees, either directly or by independent 7-Eleven franchisees. The company is also offering free delivery on all orders made through its 7Now delivery app and offering a contactless delivery option.

• Albertsons LLC has waived fees for same-day and next-day prescription deliveries, as well as mail deliveries, through May 1.

• Brookshire Grocery Co. is offering a temporary 5% daily discount for senior citizens, through May 5, 2020 and is reserving the first hour of store operations as a dedicated time for them to shop.

• C&S Wholesale Grocers is teaming up with US Foods Inc. to address supply and job imbalances in the grocery and foodservice industries.

• Hy-Vee Inc. has begun banning reusable shopping bags and deploying protective windows at checkout lanes. The grocer also announced that it is seeking temporary, part-time hourly employees for multiple positions in stores as well as in its distribution centers.

• The International Foodservice Distributors Association has partnered with the Food Industry Association to funnel excess industry resources to the grocery sector. Under a matching program, foodservice distributors with unused capacity including products, transportation and warehousing services will be connected with food retailers and wholesalers seeking more supply and support.

• The Kroger Co. has begun installing plexiglass partitions at cash registers in many of its stores. Hy-Vee Inc. and other retailers have done the same.

• Many convenience store chains are hiring more employees, including GPM Investments LLC, Kwik Trip Inc., Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, and Thorntons LLC.

• Meijer Inc. announced its stores and pharmacies will provide dedicated shopping times for senior citizens and those with chronic health conditions. There also will be dedicated shopping times for essential service workers and Meijer team members.

• Shipt is hiring hundreds of shoppers each in Boston, Washington, DC, and New York City; 1,000 shoppers in Atlanta; 2,000 shoppers each in Miami and Minneapolis; and 3,000 shoppers in Detroit.

Retail

• Amazon.com Inc. is requesting that its customers share information with the Department of Justice about possible price gouging. Amazon has been removing overpriced products from its marketplace, and is also taking action against third-party sellers who make false or unsubstantiated claims about a product’s ability.

• Batteries Plus Bulbs stores plan to remain open. The retailer says it supplies products and services that meet immediate customer needs or cannot be found elsewhere, such as batteries for wheelchairs and mobility scooters and sealed lead acid.

• Best Buy Co. Inc. is now offering curbside service only at all of its stores, and announced all in-home installations and repair services have been suspended.

• CVS Health has opened up a COVID-19 testing site in the parking lot of its closed store in Shrewsbury, MA, about 50 miles west of Boston. The site is not open to the general public. Instead, testing will initially focus on first responders and health care workers. CVS Health also announced plans to immediately fill 50,000 full-time, part-time and temporary roles across the country.

• Dollar Tree Stores Inc. plans to hire 25,000 full- and part-time associates at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores and distribution centers across the U.S.

• The Home Depot said it is temporarily adjusting store hours and will close at 6 p.m.

• IKEA North America announced that it is temporarily closing all 50 of its locations in the United States.

• Jo-Ann Stores Inc. said it will open its in-store classrooms to any who want to help make essential items for health care workers, including facemasks and covers, gowns and other items to donate to America’s hospitals. The craft retailer will provide and donate the supplies needed for these projects for those who come in to make.

• Tailored Brands, Inc. is temporarily closing its e-commerce fulfillment centers.

• Target Corporation is investing more than $300 million in added wages, a new paid leave program, bonus payouts and associate and community relief fund contributions. The retailer is putting a temporary hold on some of its store remodelings.

• Tractor Supply Co. announced it will remain open providing customers with animal feed, pet food, livestock and pet medicines, agricultural supplies, and heating fuel, along with hardware and maintenance supplies.

• Walmart Stores Inc. said it is hiring 150,000 new associates through the end of May to work in stores, clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers. The roles will be temporary at first, but many will convert to permanent roles over time. Walmart also will provide its hourly associates with a special cash bonus or allow them to access paid leave for up to 30 days. The leading retailer has opened drive-thru coronavirus testing sites in Northlake and Joliet, IL. The sites are currently serving first responders and healthcare workers and can administer up to 150 tests per day.

Restaurant

• Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc. is donating $100,000 to No Kid Hungry which should provide 1 million meals.

• Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. has ceased its investment in Punch Bowl Social over growing concerns with how the COVID-19 outbreak will affect the brand.

• CraftWorks Holdings has announced that Hazem Ouf has stepped down as CEO and he has been replaced by Marc Buehler amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The company has also temporarily closed 340 of its restaurants due to the virus.

• Doctor’s Associates Inc. and McDonald’s Corporation will be offering free delivery for a limited time through participating third party delivery apps.

• Domino’s Pizza Inc, is hiring part-time and full-time employees as they implement contactless carryout and delivery options.

• Golden Corral Corp. has temporarily shut down 35 of its company-owned restaurants and furloughed 2,290 employees due to COVID-19. Franchised locations are still currently in operation.

• Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs Inc. is hiring more full and part-time delivery drives for all its locations.

• McDonald’s Corporation will be temporarily suspending all-day breakfast menu as it attempts to simplify the menu during the outbreak.

• Nathan’s Famous Inc. is donating 7,000 burgers to the New York City Food Bank during the crisis.

• Papa John’s International Inc. is currently hiring 20,000 employees to keep up with orders during the COVID-19 outbreak.

• Starbucks Corporation will no longer accept orders placed at the register and have closed access to all its restaurants. Drive-thru and delivery are still available.

• The U.S. Senate has passed a $2 trillion stimulus package that should provide relief in part to the restaurant industry. The stimulus will aid large and small businesses alike and should extend unemployment insurance.

• TooJay’s Management Corporation is donating 10% of all gift card sales to an employee relief fund.

• Waffle House Inc. has closed 420 locations due to COVID-19. The remainder of their locations will remain open for now.

• YUM! Brands Inc. has closed 7,000 restaurants worldwide and that includes 1,000 Pizza Hut Express locations in the U.S. All remaining restaurants have switched to a to-go low contact model and some Taco Bell locations have ceased serving breakfast.