Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• Core-Mark Holding Company Inc. has laid off approximately 1,000 people in response to sales volume declines.

• Costco Wholesale Corp. announced its same-day prescription delivery via Instacart is now available nationally.

• Giant Eagle Inc. has converted a Pittsburgh-area store to curbside pick-up service only.

• Hy-Vee Inc. has introduced a two-hour express pickup option as part of its Hy-Vee Aisles Online grocery-ordering service.

• Lidl US, LLC will soon open a new store located in Peachtree Corners, GA.

• Meijer Inc. is developing a fully automated dry grocery supply chain facility adjacent to its existing distribution center in Tipp City, OH, scheduled for completion in August 2022.

• Publix Super Markets Inc. is partnering with ScriptDrop to offer home delivery of prescriptions within a five-mile radius of each in-store Publix Pharmacy for a $5 fee.

• Smart & Final Stores LLC said it expects to have a new line-queuing checkout process installed in all of its 255 stores by later this month. The concept involves a single line feeding multiple checkouts.

Retail

• Aldo Group Inc. plans to restructure its debt via bankruptcy. The retailer has started a court restructuring process and has obtained protection through the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act in Canada and said it plans to carry on business throughout the process.

• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. announced most of its stores will remain closed to the public until at least May 30, but it has expanded buy-online-pickup-in-store and contactless curbside pickup services to 200 more locations.

• Gap Inc. plans to reopen up to 800 locations by the end of May.

• JCPenney Company, Inc. is including social distancing, hygiene measures, and contactless payment in its store reopening protocols. The retailer is gradually reopening its doors.

• Kohl’s Corporation announced it will begin to reopen stores in select states this week, and will be implementing new safety measures.

• London Drugs Limited has begun sharing its shelf space with local businesses. In certain locations, London Drugs stores will turn their center aisles into Local Central, dedicated to products from local vendors.

• The Neiman Marcus Group has filed for bankruptcy protection, but said it expects to emerge from bankruptcy in early fall. A select few stores are now open for curbside pickup.

• Recreational Equipment Inc. will begin offering curbside pick-up at more than half of its stores nationwide and will launch zero-contact bike shop services in select locations.

• Rite Aid Corporation is opening 46 more free COVID-19 testing sites this week, most of which will operate through its stores’ drive-thru windows.

• Sephora USA Inc. is providing an online installment payment option from Klarna. The program allows e-commerce customers to pay in four equal payments with no interest.

• Stage Stores Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it simultaneously seeks buyers and also starts to wind down operations. The company plans to start reopening its stores to start liquidating its inventory.

• Tailored Brands, Inc., whose banners include Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank and K&G, expects to reopen approximately 300 stores by Memorial Day.

• Target Corporation said it is planning to acquire technology from Deliv, a startup that is focused on last-mile batched delivery. The deal includes the company’s CEO joining the Target team.

• Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. will reopen approximately 180 stores this week in some states. A number of the reopened locations will offer hair services with heightened safety protocols.

Restaurant

• Biglari Holdings Inc. has permanently closed 57 restaurants in the wake of the Covid-9 pandemic.

• Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. has opened its first Buffalo Wild Wings GO location in Sandy Springs, GA. The new location will feature takeout and delivery options only.

• California has released guidelines for restaurant reopening in the state. These guidelines include a focus on physical distancing over maximum capacity caps and the removal of communal objects like salt shakers and condiments.

• Dog Haus International LLC has opened a new ghost kitchen location in Avondale, Arizona.

• Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. has replaced Styrofoam cups with paper cups in all of their worldwide locations.

• Firehouse Restaurant Group Inc. has introduced a family meal pack and a portion of every purchase of this pack goes to providing for first responders.

• McDonald’s Corporation does not have a deadline to reopen all restaurants, but they will be implementing new safety procedures when they do. These features will include wellness checks, hand sanitizer, and plastic barriers.

• Pie Five Pizza is reopening dining rooms in areas that have eased restrictions. The restaurants will feature hand sanitizer stations and altered packaging to slow the spread of COVID-19. Customers will also be able to donate to frontline workers at checkout.

• Potbelly Corporation is considering closing 100 locations that were underperforming before the pandemic in an effort to strengthen their remaining stores.

• Raising Cane’s LLC is distributing a $2 million bonus to their employees. All locations with a drive-thru have remained open during the pandemic and the company is looking to hire additional staff.

• Restaurant Brands International is planning to reopen dining rooms in its Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons restaurants. The company is also considering designing new masks that would be incorporated into the uniform of the three brands.

• Ruby Tuesday Inc. is offering boxed meals to first responders and will match every meal that is donated by customers.

• Sustainable Restaurant Group has filed for bankruptcy and is currently seeking a sale to maintain operations.

• The ONE Group LLC is has reopened 11 restaurants and is planning to reopen their remaining restaurants as restrictions across the country begin to lift.