Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store
• 7-Eleven Inc. is piloting a new fuel loyalty program in FL, TX, and VA. The internally developed technology allows customers to pay for fuel contact-free through the loyalty program found in the 7-Eleven app by using mobile payment options or Siri shortcuts on their iPhone.
• Brookshire Brothers Ltd. said that with the higher demand for online shopping amid the coronavirus pandemic, the company has decided to introduce Brookshire Brothers Anywhere, its curbside pickup and grocery delivery service, at 14 additional locations.
• H-E-B announced that it would be transitioning its temporary $2 per hour pay raises to permanent pay increases.
• Island Pacific Supermarket has become the first Filipino supermarket chain to offer online shopping with same-day grocery delivery in the United States.
• The Kroger Co. announced a 92% sales growth in digital channels in its first quarter of 2020.
• Raley’s Family of Fine Stores has temporarily turned an old store into an e-commerce fulfillment center.
• Sobeys Inc. has launched its Voilà online grocery delivery platform in the greater Toronto area.
Retail
• Apple Inc. said it has decided to close 11 stores in four states in which coronavirus infections are surging. The decision comes just weeks after the company had reopened those locations.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has had to lay off 148 employees at the company’s headquarters and is closing two contact centers in August. The retailer also said it expects 95% of its stores to have reopened by early July.
• CVS Health is releasing Return Ready, a comprehensive, customizable COVID-19 testing solution designed to help return employees to worksites and students, faculty, and staff to college campuses.
• David’s Bridal is introducing video to its new virtual appointment service. Stylists will be available to assist brides and bridal parties on the Zoom video platform.
• General Nutrition Centers, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced that it expects to close between 800 and 1,200 stores.
• JCPenney Company, Inc. has started store closing sales at 136 stores, and announced closing sales will begin at 13 more stores next week.
• Macy’s, Inc. announced it will reduce corporate and management headcount by approximately 3,900 as the business recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Nordstrom Inc. reopened its six locations in New York City this week, with enhanced safety measures.
• Pilot Flying J is reopening dining operations with certain self-serve items at select locations.
• Target Corporation is permanently raising its starting wage to $15 an hour, beginning on July 5, several months ahead of time.
• Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. is resuming immunization services that it had paused due to the pandemic, with additional safety measures in place.
Restaurant
• Applebee’s has closed a location in Overland Park due to the pandemic.
• CEC Entertainment Inc. has filed for bankruptcy due to COVID-19. The company is not planning to close any restaurants during the process, but less than a third of their total restaurants have reopened.
• Jose Pepper’s Restaurant Group has permanently closed one of their locations due to reduced dine-in capacity guidelines.
• Panda Restaurant Group Inc. has launched its own direct delivery service called Panda Delivers. The chain had plans to launch the service sometime in the future, but COVID-19 accelerated those plans and allowed the restaurant to avoid the difficulties others encountered from third-party services.
• Pizza Guys Franchises Inc. has found renewed success during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have donated over 14,000 pizzas to healthcare workers, and now they are looking to give back again by expanding their operations and adding 300 new jobs. They are currently seeking franchise partners in Southern California and hope to create new opportunities for the struggling restaurant industry.
• Raising Cane’s LLC founder and CEO Todd Graves is creating a docuseries titled “Restaurant Recovery”. The series is designed to help struggling restaurants and will see Graves traveling to 20 different restaurants to help them get back to business.
• Rubio’s Restaurants Inc. has decided to close 12 locations in the Colorado and Florida areas due to the complications from COVID-19
• Shake Shack is installing more ordering kiosks in their restaurants to reduce contact. They are also planning to slowly expand their menu beyond the limited offerings they instituted when COVID-19 hit.
