Nobody saw this coming. Just two months ago, we were in our 11th year of an economic expansion; unemployment was at a 50-year old low; and March Madness was right around the corner. Then the bottom fell out. With roughly one-third of the world’s population in a lockdown (just think about that for a moment),…
Nouria Provides Hourly Pay Raises in Response to COVID-19
Nouria Energy announced that is providing hourly pay raises of $1 to its store employees, car wash employees and field maintenance techs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees were notified of the hourly pay raise on March 22 in a statement sent from Nouria’s President and CEO Tony El-Nemr: “You are truly our Nouria…
Choice Market Offers Contactless Pick-Up, Delivery and Discounts During COVID-19
Denver-based Choice Market has implemented several changes to its stores during COVID-19, including discounts for service industry employees, first responders and medical personnel, as well as the addition of home essentials and contactless pick-up and delivery options. The company also said it will compensate employees if they need time off due to potential exposure. “Choice…
ITG Brands Donates $50,000 to Local COVID-19 Relief Fund
Greensboro, N.C.-based ITG Brands is donating $50,000 to support those impacted by COVID-19. The contribution comes in response to the United Way of Greater Greensboro’s request for members of the community to assist its humanitarian efforts in the face of this unprecedented crisis affecting the entire community. “We share United Way of Greater Greensboro’s concerns —…
RPP Products Shifts Production to Hand Sanitizer to Help Combat COVID-19
To help curb the current COVID-19 public health crisis, RPP Products Inc., a national privately held manufacturer and distributor of automotive chemicals and lubricants to the convenience and grocery channels, has partially shifted its resources to help with the shortage of hand sanitizer available to the public. The team at RPP is working multiple shifts,…
Alcohol Sales See Significant Growth Amid 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…
Enmarket Suspends Self-Serve Foodservice, Increases Employee Pay
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…
Kum & Go Raises Employee Wages Until May 3, Offers Free COVID-19 Testing
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…
Wawa Suspends Made-to-Order Food in Philadelphia Stores
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…
Altria Asks FDA to Extend Regulatory Tobacco Deadline
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…