Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• Albertsons LLC is piloting an automated, temperature-controlled pickup kiosk outside a Jewel-Osco supermarket in Chicago.

Retail

• Dollar General Corp. is one of the first retailers to announce it will pay its employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The retailer will give their frontline hourly workers a one-time payment equivalent of four hours of regular pay after receiving a completed vaccination.

• Walmart Stores Inc. will test a new grocery delivery service option starting this spring. It will provide participating customers with a temperature-controlled smart cooler that’s called a HomeValet. The cooler will be placed outside of their home, allowing for contact-free deliveries at any time.

Restaurant

• Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc. saw a strong performance during the pandemic in 2020 and has now received $20 million for growth from their private equity owner Oak Hill Capital Partners.

• Chipotle Mexican Grill is planning to hire 15,000 new employees due to their growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Denny’s Corporation has plans to launch two new virtual brands this year as the virtual brand concept has gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two new brands will focus on burgers and melts for their menu offerings.

• Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is planning to open a new delivery and carry-out location in Dale City, VA. The smaller store format became more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Taco Bell is bringing back their potato menu items that were initially removed during a menu downsizing caused by COVID-19. The company is also planning a new item in partnership with Beyond Meat.