Coronavirus: Industry Impact 2021

Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• Albertsons LLC announced it has surpassed the 1 million mark in COVID-19 vaccines administered by its pharmacy teams.

• Cardinal Health Inc. has distributed millions of at-home COVID-19 rapid tests to pharmacies across the United States.

• Publix Super Markets Inc. is offering COVID-19 vaccines at its pharmacies in Florida and Georgia.

• Safeway Inc. is piloting a remote-controlled grocery delivery cart in Northern California with automated logistics specialist Tortoise. The cart provides a contactless solution for last-mile delivery of online grocery orders. Equipped with a camera and a speaker, the electric-powered cart is guided through the neighborhood by a remote operator.

Retail

• Costco Wholesale Corp. is testing curbside pickup at three locations in Albuquerque.

• Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation and Loblaw Companies Limited pharmacies have begun delivering their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Canada.

• Target Corporation is now offering the COVID-19 vaccine through its partnership with CVS Health.

• Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. announced that it has provided 5 million COVID-19 vaccinations.

Restaurant

• El Pollo Loco has finished remodeling 3 stores that are part of their long-term plan to remodel over 300 locations. The new store designs were created with COVID-19 in mind and focus on digital ordering.

• MooYah Burgers & Fries will be launching their first drive-thru location later this year. When the pandemic hit, the company revamped their digital ordering platform and began planning drive-thru locations that were originally slated to open in 2022.

• Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Spirits has launched three delivery-only virtual brands that will not feature burgers. The brands are named Chicken Sammy’s, The Wing Dept., and Fresh Set.

• Steak ‘n Shake is opening 45 locations that were temporarily closed due to a combination of poor service and COVID-19.