COVID-19

According to Nielsen, U.S. beverage alcohol off-premise retail sales have seen massive growth as consumer stock up during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the week ending March 14, 2020, over the same period in 2019, wine was up 27.6%, spirits were up 26.4%, and beer/flavored malt beverages/cider were up 14%. For comparison, in the 13-week period ending…

Savannah, Ga.-based Enmarket announced several new measures to combat COVID-19 and thank employees for their hard work and dedication. The company has committed to raising pay rates by $2 per hour for all non-salaried store employees from March 26 through April 15. In addition, salaried managers will be guaranteed 100% of their bonus potential for…

In a letter signed by Chairman and CEO Kyle Krause on March 26, Iowa-based Kum & Go, which operates 400 stores in 11 states, announced that it will increase its pay for all store associates, including general managers, by $2 an hour backdated to March 16 and until May 3. “In these unprecedented, challenging times, our…

On March 26, Wawa announced that is no longer serving made-to-order food in its Philadelphia stores due to COVID-19 guidance from Philadelphia City officials. But it will continue to serve those items through delivery services and will expand its hot and cold ready-made express items. The full made-to-order menu items will still be available through delivery…

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Altria Group Inc. has asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to seek an extension from a federal judge in Maryland on the regulatory deadline for some tobacco products to coincide with the eight-week social-distancing period recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, companies must apply to the FDA by May…

7-Eleven announced several new actions to support franchise and corporate stores and prevent the spread of COVID-19, including installing plexiglass sneeze guards for its frontline employees. Each store will receive two of the transparent plastic barriers, all of which were made in North America. Installations will begin at stores in areas hardest hit by the…

Charlottesville, Va.-based Tiger Fuel Company, which operates nine convenience stores and 10 car washes in central Virginia, donated $2,000 to The Charlottesville Restaurant Community Fund, a GoFundMe for foodservice workers who need help paying bills, and buying fuel and groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic. “My brother and I were born and raised in Charlottesville, and…

VERC Enterprises, with more than 30 locations throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, is helping its nearly 400 employees during COVID-19 with a combination of bonuses and pay increases. On March 16, the company presented all full-time employees with bonus checks of $500, and its part-time employees each received $200. Then on March 23, the company increased…

Louisville, Ky.-based Thorntons, which operates 200 stores in six states, is saying thank you to our communities with two limited-time offers. Through March 31, customers can receive 10 cents off per gallon at their local Thorntons by entering the promotion code at the pump or inside at the register when prompted for a Refreshing Rewards phone…

Mondelēz International U.S. announced several actions to keep its food supply going, protect its employees and support communities impacted by COVID-19. This includes enhanced benefits and support for its U.S. workforce, the hiring of additional U.S. colleagues and a commitment to donate $15 million to community partners advancing COVID-19 relief efforts in the U.S. and around…