Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store
• Fresh Thyme Farmers Market has struck a deal with Shipt to give its customers access to same-day food retail deliveries.
• The Kroger Co. announced it will make emergency home COVID-19 test kits available to its associates. The test kits will be available to frontline associates across Kroger’s businesses, based on medical need.
• MAPCO Express Inc. has launched a new mobile app with the ability to pay directly through the app in an effort to make fueling and redeeming points easier and safer for customers.
• The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC announced that it will add three new warerooms and at least 50 more Pickup locations in 2020 to support increased e-commerce demand. Stop & Shop also recently expanded its availability on Instacart to 321 locations.
Retail
• Ascena Retail Group Inc. is preparing to file for bankruptcy and close at least 1,200 of its store locations.
• Apple Inc. has announced the re-closing of 32 stores in the United States due to a surge in Covid-19 cases. The shutdowns come after Apple re-closed stores in Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, and Florida.
• Brooks Brothers Group, Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection as it continues to search for a buyer. The retailer will close 51 stores, a decision it attributes to the pandemic.
• Gap Inc. announced it has leveraged its supply chain relationships and operations to provide companies in both the private and public sector with high-quality reusable, non-medical grade cloth face masks for their employees.
• H & M Hennes & Mauritz LP announced that it is closing 170 stores in 2020 worldwide, which is 40 more than it had originally planned. The company also intends to open 130 new stores elsewhere this year.
• JCPenney Company, Inc. plans to close two New York City stores, including its location in Herald Square and its store at Kings Plaza in Brooklyn, on September 27, with liquidation sales likely to begin next week.
• Levi Strauss & Co. said it will cut around 700 corporate jobs, roughly 15% of its corporate workforce. The retailer announced buy-online-pickup-in-store is now available in 20% of stores and it plans to complete the rollout to the remaining U.S. stores in the coming months.
• Lucky Brand has filed for bankruptcy protection, blaming its troubles partly on the coronavirus. The retailer plans to close at least 13 stores during the restructuring process.
• Macy’s Inc. will reduce its corporate and management headcount by about 3,900 people as part of a restructuring plan.
• Microsoft Corporation announced it will permanently close its 82 Microsoft Store retail locations.
• Nike Inc. announced it is shifting its operating model as it expects digital could grow to 50% of Nike’s total business.
• Nordstrom Inc. is laying off thousands of workers, including a large number from its corporate operations in Seattle, as it copes with pandemic-related losses.
• Rite Aid Corporation increased its e-commerce fulfillment capacity by 700% in three weeks during its fiscal first quarter. The company expanded its partnership with Instacart to more than 2,400 locations, including delivery of both prescriptions and front-end items. The retailer announced it will only remodel 45 stores this year, down from the original plan of 75. The remaining remodels will move into the beginning of next year.
• Under Armour Inc. announced it will soon launch a new “Sportsmask” designed to keep wearers safe while they exercise.
Restaurant
• CEC Entertainment Inc. is partnering with DoorDash to expand its delivery options for its virtual Pasqually’s Pizza brand that was created for the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but said it will maintain its operations and continue to reopen restaurants.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill has partnered with Grubhub to expand its delivery platform amid the COVID-19 pandemic. All orders will come with tamper evident seals and delivery drivers will offer contactless drop-off.
• Denny’s Corporation plans to combat the rise in unemployment caused by COVID-19 by hiring an additional 10,000 new employees by the end of the year.
• Domino’s Pizza is now offering car side delivery as a new pickup option during the COVID-19 pandemic. The contactless options allow an employee to place the pizza in a designated spot of the customer’s vehicle.
• NPC International Inc. is filling Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The large franchisee was struggling before the pandemic hit, but temporary closures due to COVID-19 have forced their hand.
• Olive Garden has installed temporary plastic barriers in order to expand seating capacity.
• Wingstop will continue to keep its dining rooms closed for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19. In response, the company has opened its first ghost kitchen location in U.S. which it hopes will be a boost to already impressive off-premise sales.
