Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store
• Food Lion LLC has expanded its grocery pickup services to 31 more stores in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina.
• The Kroger Co. has announced Romulus, MI, as one of the latest sites for nine planned Ocado-powered automated fulfillment centers.
• Kwik Trip Inc. is launching a line of take-home meals chainwide in response to changing consumer habits as a result of the pandemic.
• Meijer Inc. announced it anticipates administering 75% more flu shots this year.
• Safeway Inc. announced its pharmacy locations in Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware now offer at-home COVID-19 test kits.
• The Save Mart Companies, in partnership with robot delivery company Starship Technologies, has launched a robotic on-demand grocery delivery service at its flagship store in Modesto, CA.
• Schnuck Markets Inc. is adding a shelf-scanning inventory management robot to 46 more supermarkets.
Retail
• Amazon.com Inc. announced its annual Prime Day event, which is normally held in July, will be October 13-14.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has announced the first group of stores that it plans to close. The first batch of stores, 63 in all, will be closed by the end of the year.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. announced it has partnered with Shipt and Instacart to offer same-day delivery service.
• H & M Hennes & Mauritz LP plans to close 250 stores worldwide next year as the coronavirus crisis drives more shoppers online.
• Rite Aid Corporation has opened 39 new drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites in eight states, bringing its total testing footprint to more than 300 locations.
• Sephora USA Inc. has partnered with Instacart to offer same-day delivery.
• Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. has cancelled plans to expand into Canada this year, instead opting to focus on its e-commerce business.
• Walmart Stores Inc. will remodel 200 of its supercenters by the end of the year. The retailer plans to offer a more “digitally-enabled shopping experience” featuring contactless checkout, and plans to remodel another 1,000 stores by the end of 2021.
Restaurant
• El Pollo Loco has added curbside pick-up as an option for their customers due to COVID-19. The option is available through their app and each restaurant has added dedicated parking spots for the orders.
• Fazoli’s will be adding the chicken wings from their ghost kitchen concept Wingville to their permanent menu at physical locations.
• Firehouse Subs has launched their annual First Responders Month fundraiser. The goal is to raise $1 million and will help first responders combat COVID-19 and the natural disasters that have struck America.
• Walk-On’s Enterprises has launched a new app and loyalty program. This is part of the company’s drive to advance their technology during COVID-19.
