April 3, 2020 Update

Supermarket, Grocery & C-Store

• The Giant Company is asking shoppers not to hoard groceries in a new social media campaign dubbed #MoreForAll.

• Grocery retailers are beginning to ask customers to leave reusable bags at home and are temporarily suspending returns because items could be contaminated.

• The Kroger Co. has turned a store in Ohio into its first-ever pickup-only location.

• Lucky’s Market has recently sold 23 stores and a distribution center. Aldi Inc., Dave’s Market, Hitchcock’s Market, Oryana Food Cooperative Inc., Publix Super Market Inc., Seabra’s Market, Schnuck Markets Inc. and Southeastern Grocers acquired store locations. Dollar General Corp. acquired Lucky’s distribution center in Orlando, FL.

• Publix Super Market Inc. is offering rent relief to businesses operating in company-owned shopping centers that have closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

• Stop & Shop, Aldi Inc. and Lidl US, LLC are expanding hiring as grocery retailers nationwide seek extra hands. Stop & Shop said Thursday it plans to hire at least 5,000 new associates. Lidl US announced plans to hire up to 1,000 temporary employees. Aldi U.S. reported yesterday that, as part of its coronavirus response, it has hired nearly 7,500 employees and is “continuing to hire more each day.

Retail

• Brooks Brothers, Burberry, Canada Goose, Fanatics, Gap Inc., Nike, Nordstrom Inc., Tailored Brands, and Under Armour among other retailers have announced they will use their resources to create personal protective equipment like masks and scrubs for health care workers.

• Crocs Inc. announced that it will give away a free pair of clogs to medical professionals. The company says it is prepared to donate 10,000 shoes a day through requests on its website, and also send 100,000 pairs to healthcare institutions around the country. Allbirds announced that it would be donating free Wool Runners to healthcare workers.

• Dollar General Corp. will provide all medical personnel, first responders and activated National Guardsmen with a 10% discount on qualifying purchases through April 30.

• Hallmark Cards, Inc. is donating two million cards. Anyone interested, can go to the Hallmark.com/CareEnough website to sign up and receive a free three-card pack.

• Kinney Drugs has installed acrylic shields in the pharmacy drop-off and pick-up areas and at the front registers. The retailer is also instating a $2-per-hour increase for employees.

• Office Depot Inc. is partnering with Shipt and Deliv to offer same-day delivery from approximately 1,100 Office Depot and OfficeMax stores as remote work surges.

• Target Corporation will scale back the number of remodels and new stores this year as well as pause plans to add fresh groceries and alcohol to its pickup services.

• Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. announced that it will be selling groceries at its more than 7,300 pharmacy drive-thrus nationwide. The additional products available at the drive-thru will include cleaning supplies and sanitizers; select over-the-counter products such as cough/cold, pain/fever and immunity support, select grocery items; infant formula/adult nutrition; medical supplies; first-aid items; and paper goods.

• Walmart Stores Inc. has started installing plexiglass barriers, or sneeze guards, at the pharmacy lanes in Walmart and Sam’s Club stores. It also plans to install the guards at regular Walmart registers during the next two to three weeks. Walmart is waiving rent fees for its in-store business partners for the month of April. The retailer is also making changes to its supply-chain financing program to help qualified suppliers get payments faster. Walmart will start taking temperatures of U.S. store workers at the start of each shift and is offering masks for those employees who wish to wear them.

Restaurant

• Boston Market and Torchy’s Tacos are offering large family meals for takeout and delivery.

• Church’s Chicken has created a plan to provide immediately relief to franchisees during the COVID-19 outbreak.

• Coolgreens announced that for every salad purchased they will be donating a salad to hospitals in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

• Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants Inc. is offering whole meat takeout options alongside the grocery items it is also offering.

• Dog Haus International LLC is transitioning its restaurants into Haus Markets that will sell surplus grocery items like toilet paper and eggs.

• Frisch’s Big Boy has started selling grocery items at its restaurants.

• KFC is donating over 1 million pieces of chicken to aid the relief effort.

• McDonald’s Corporation will begin screening employees at all of its restaurants starting now.  The screening will involve a series of questions for each employee and it is only a precautionary measure.

• Open Table, a third party restaurant reservation service, has introduced a software update that will allow customers to find nearby restaurants who are selling grocery items as well as schedule shopping times at local grocery stores. Chain Store Guide is contributing to their efforts by supplying crucial market intelligence.

• Pieology Pizzeria launched the Pieology Care Pack that allows customers to send pizza to local relief workers.

• Teriyaki Madness LLC has launched a campaign to donate meals to healthcare workers

• The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated has furloughed 41,000 hourly employees.

• Walk-On’s Enterprises has opened a kitchen providing meals for furloughed employees.