Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• Ahold-Delhaize has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire New York City online grocer FreshDirect.

• Coborn’s Inc. is utilizing electrostatic cleaning sprayers to disinfect carts after each use in an effort to minimize surface spread of the COVID-19 virus.

• Hy-Vee Inc. said it will be hiring 10,000 new employees to meet the evolving needs of customers who plan to shop differently this holiday season.

Retail

• CVS Health has become the first major national retailer to offer touch-free payment with PayPal and Venmo QR codes at brick-and-mortar stores.

• Francesca’s Holdings Corp. plans to close approximately 140 stores by the end of January, and is considering bankruptcy.

• Guitar Center Inc. plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by the end of the year.

• Kohl’s Corporation is experimenting with both self-checkout and self-returns in its stores.

• The TJX Companies Inc. plans to rollout e-commerce for its HomeGoods Inc. division later next year.

• Walmart Stores Inc. announced it is taking space in 42 of its existing regional distribution centers to create pop-up e-commerce distribution centers.

• Walmart Stores Inc. has more than doubled its number of personal shoppers from last year.

Restaurant

• Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar has launched a delivery and takeout only virtual restaurant called Jolene’s Wings & Beer. Lazy Dog has joined a growing number of restaurants that have started virtual wing concepts since the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

• Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc. will be laying off over 1,000 employees who have been furloughed since March due to issues stemming from COVID-19

• Starbucks Coffee is giving a raise to all employees ranging from 5% to 11%. When COVID-19 hit in March the company gave a temporary $3 increase to employees and vowed to donate $10 million to affected employees.