Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• Wakefern Food Corp.’s ShopRite chain has joined a pharmacy partnership with the U.S. Department of Health to help administer COVID-19 vaccinations.

Retail

• American Eagle Outfitters Inc. is leveraging geofencing technology to streamline its curbside pickup process and provide mobile self-checkout in stores.

• Apple Inc. is temporarily closing all 53 of its stores in California as well as more than 50 other locations in the U.S. and globally, because of a surge of coronavirus cases.

• CVS Health and Walgreens they will complete the administration of COVID-19 vaccine first doses in skilled nursing facilities by January 25.

• Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. and Instacart have partnered to launch same-day delivery from more than 150 stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington D.C.

• Rite Aid Corporation is growing its COVID-19 testing footprint. The company said it has opened 99 additional drive-thru sites offering no-charge COVID-19 tests, which will bring its total testing footprint to 400 sites. With the expansion, Rite Aid will be offering testing in 12 states.

Restaurant

• Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar is testing a new drive-thru location that will allow customers to order through their app before arriving at the drive-thru lane.

• Del Taco has unveiled a new prototype store called ‘Fresh Flex’. The new type of store will help deal with the challenges of COVID-19 by providing a smaller real estate footprint, adding two drive thru lanes, and designating areas for curbside pick-up.

• Pokeworks is launching a new drive-thru prototype that will focus on orders dilled through third-party delivery and mobile orders. The new concept will be called ‘Cruise-Thru’.

• Schlotzsky’s Deli is developing new prototype stores that are smaller and include drive-thru only stores. The company also introduced new electronic menus that push items that sold well during the pandemic.

• Taziki’s Mediterranean Café has introduced a new logo redesign and new uniforms. The company will also be removing Styrofoam from its packaging in a sustainability effort. To adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic they are also launching a new delivery service through their app and website.

• The Flame Broiler has introduced online ordering in order to boost sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.