Costa Fruit & Produce is launching online ordering for next day pickup at its Boston facility for fresh fruit, vegetables and specialty foods. The company says it is committed to the well-being of communities across Boston. In response to the recent challenges related to Covid -19 the company is looking for ways to continue to bring […]
Category: Health & Wellness
The Shelby Report covers health and wellness for grocery retailers nationwide, from better-for-you products and natural and organic trends to supplements, functional foods and supplier announcements. Updated regularly across our five regional editions.
Vermont Governor Outlines Phased, Limited Reopening Of Commerce
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has outlined an approach for the phased restart of Vermont’s economy, emphasizing the state’s modeling indicates initial steps can be taken while the Stay Home, Stay Safe order remains in effect. To begin to execute this strategy, Scott signed an addendum to Executive Order 01-20, which—to start getting more Vermonters back to work—institutes […]
Walmart Hires 150K Associates, Pledges To Hire 50K More
Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart recently committed to hiring more than 150,000 new associates by the end of May. Since then, the company has had more than one million applicants, hiring an average of 5,000 people per day. “We’re pleased to share we reached our goal in less than a month—more than six weeks ahead of schedule. […]
Rebecca Creek Distillery Donates Hand Sanitizer, Hosts Concert
San Antonio, Texas-based Rebecca Creek Distillery has temporarily shifted its production of ultra-premium spirits, Rebecca Creek Whiskey, Enchanted Rock Vodka and Texas Ranger Whiskey to alcohol-based hand cleaners to respond to the growing needs of first responders and essential employees. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA issued temporary production guidelines for the temporary manufacture of certain […]
Texas Governor Makes Plans To Reopen State’s Economy
On April 17, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott laid out the state’s plans for reopening the Texas economy from the Covid-19 crisis. As part of his plan, the governor issued an executive order which amends the current Texas “stay at home order” for the retail sector, according to the Texas Retailers Association (TRA). The amended order allows […]
Rite Aid Expands Covid-19 On-Site Testing With 7 New Locations
Rite Aid continues to expand Covid-19 testing sites with new locations opening Monday, April 20, in New York, New Jersey, Michigan and Ohio, through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). New Rite Aid Covid-19 self-swab testing site locations include: Lansing, Michigan: 715 South Main Street in Eaton Rapids; Flint, Michigan: 9090 […]
Foster Farms Donates Additional 400K Poultry Servings To Hunger Relief
Livingston, California-based Foster Farms is donating an additional 400,000 servings of poultry to community hunger relief organizations throughout California to help families impacted economically by Covid-19. Recently, the family-owned company announced a donation of two million servings of protein to food banks and community organizations on the West Coast, and in Louisiana and Alabama. “The […]
EFI Offers Resources For Farmworker Protection, Continuity Of Supply
In these times of uncertainty as the world responds to the coronavirus, Equitable Food Initiative has curated a library of best-in-class resources and practices that provides for employee communication during the current pandemic. EFI is a workforce development and skill-building organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer advocacy groups to promote responsible labor […]
North Dakota’s Baker Boy Celebrates 65 Years In Business
Bakery manufacturer Baker Boy Inc., based in Dickinson, North Dakota, celebrated its 65th anniversary this week. Baker Boy President Guy Moos marked the occasion by praising all of the company’s employees, past and present. “I want to express my utmost gratitude to all of the dedicated people who have worked for Baker Boy over the […]
CA Grocery Stores Enhance Commitment To Health, Safety For All
The California Grocers Association (CGA), in collaboration with Gov. Gavin Newsom and labor leaders, announced statewide safety standards that will help ensure consistent practices in all essential retail stores, including grocery, to enhance protection for employees and shoppers and prevent the spread of Covid-19. Some of the standards were formalized through an Executive Order issued […]
Produce For Kids Launches Stock The Food Pantries Initiative
Orlando, Florida-based Produce for Kids has provided more than 12 million meals to families in need through Feeding America over the years, and now the organization is looking to rally the produce industry and beyond to support Feeding America’s Covid-19 Response Fund through its new Stock the Food Pantries fundraising initiative. On April 1, Feeding America announced an estimated $1.4 […]
New Study Reveals Covid-19 Impact On Americans’ Food Habits
Americans ordered to stay at home during the Covid-19 pandemic are being forced to find new ways to fulfill their daily responsibilities and occupy their free time. A new study released April 15—”America Gets Cooking: Food Trends During Covid-19″—offers a glimpse at how the coronavirus crisis is impacting adult American consumers’ food preferences and behaviors, […]
Independent Supermarkets Brave Pandemic Challenges To Service Customers
Port Washington, New York-based Associated Supermarkets Group (ASG) says independent supermarkets are open and servicing their customer’s grocery needs despite facing many challenges, including lack of employees and an uncertain supply of goods due to the pandemic. Supermarket owners, along with their employees are on the front lines, opening their doors every day to keep […]
Hellmann’s Establishes Food Relief Fund For Frontline Workers
As part of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey-based Unilever’s ‘United for America’ initiative, Hellmann’s launched a Food Relief Fund that will provide $1 million to feed frontline workers and people in need in New York City, Hellmann’s birthplace and the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic epicenter. To start, Hellmann’s Food Relief Fund will provide $500,000 worth of […]
Flowers Foods Temporarily Closes Georgia Bakery Due To Pandemic
Thomasville, Georgia-based Flowers Foods Inc., producer of Nature’s Own, Wonder, Tastykake, Dave’s Killer Bread and other bakery foods, announced April 14 that it has temporarily stopped production at its bakery in Tucker, Georgia, to safeguard the wellness of its 255 team members. The bakery, which produces primarily frozen, non-retail specialty and foodservice bread and bun […]
IDDBA Plans Live Webinar Series Through Remainder Of April
The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) is conducting live webinars throughout the remainder of April. Webinars are open to both IDDBA members and nonmembers. The April schedule is as follows: April 17: Retail Fresh Foods and COVID-19: What’s Next for Deli, Dairy, and Bakery—Since the beginning of March, producers and retailers in the fresh […]
Price Chopper Takes Nimble Approach While Awaiting ‘New Normal’
by John McCurry/contributing writer The ringing cash registers at Price Chopper’s 51 stores in the greater Kansas City region tell the tale of strong business. However, in the early weeks of the coronavirus era, there is much more to tell than increased sales. “If you look at so many changes happening in the country, the […]
Recommended: Kentucky, Kroger Partner On Free Drive-Thru Testing
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Gov. Andy Beshear said Kentucky is partnering with Kroger to launch free drive-thru COVID-19 testing across the state. The drive-thru testing will be limited to health care workers, first responders, people age 65 and older and individuals with chronic health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and other immune-system-lowering diseases, […]
Shoppers Praise Grocers’ Response To Covid-19 Pandemic
U.S. grocery shoppers are highly concerned about the coronavirus pandemic. The Hartman Group/FMI U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends COVID-19 Tracker report from the first wave of research (March 21-26) finds that American consumers express a high degree of concern about the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, with 92 percent concerned and 69 percent “extremely” or “very” concerned. The vast […]
First Insight: Treatment Of Essential Workers Impacts Consumer Decisions
How essential retailers treat their employees during the coronavirus pandemic is having a significant impact on consumer shopping decisions, according to a new study by First Insight. The company found that overall, 59 percent of respondents surveyed in early April stated that they would shop less at an essential retailer that has sick employees come […]
