Cincinnati, Ohio-based The Kroger Co. has published the first installment of “Sharing What We’ve Learned: A Blueprint for Businesses” to provide actionable recommendations for retailers, restaurants and food service companies, manufacturers, logistics and distribution centers and other industries to consider as they start crafting plans for safe work environments while the Covid-19 risk persists. “With nearly 2,800 grocery […]
Category: Nonfood Items
Nonfood news for grocery retailers: health and beauty, household, pet and general merchandise trends.
See more center store coverage in Aisle Watch.
Posted inNonfood Items, COVID News, Home Page Slider, West
Dollar General Opens First Store In Washington State
Dollar General has opened its first store in Washington state, increasing its national presence to 46 states. The store opened in Cathlamet in Wahkiakum County. “Dollar General is proud to extend our store presence and bring our mission of serving others to Washington state residents. We are proud to be able to open and operate […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, COVID News, Home Page Slider, National, Nonfood Items, Whole Foods
Strategy Analytics: Amazon Go Is Compelling But Niche Experience
Two years after opening the world’s first cashier-less convenience store “Amazon Go,” Amazon has expanded on its concept, opening a larger-format cashier-less grocery store. A new report from the User Experience Strategies Service (UXS) at Strategy Analytics outlines a consumer-focused evaluation of the Amazon Go Grocery experience. While ”Just Walk Out” shopping has the potential to disrupt retail, its broader […]
Posted inNonfood Items, COVID News, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Recommended: Oberlin Residents Hold Thank You Walk For IGA Workers
OBERLIN, OHIO — Residents of Oberlin’s King Street social distanced and walked to IGA to show their appreciation for the grocery stores workers continuing to show up and providing food opportunities for the community Monday afternoon. King Street resident Dinah Volk brought the idea up to her neighbors a week ago when they were all […]
Posted inNonfood Items, COVID News, Home Page Slider, Northeast
Connecticut Institutes Priority Express Lines For Front Line Workers
On Monday, April 20, at Stew Leonard’s in Newington, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and state officials were joined by local grocer Stew Leonard Jr. to announce first responder express lines for police, firefighters, nurses and health care workers. They also were joined by local food pantries that are in crisis. Food pantries across Connecticut have […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, Nonfood Items, Southwest
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. […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, Nonfood Items, Southwest
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 […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Executive News, Home Page Slider, Southeast
Retired Division VP DiBenedetto Joins Publix Board Of Directors
During its annual stockholders’ meeting April 14, Joe DiBenedetto, retired Atlanta Division VP, was elected to Publix Super Markets’ board of directors. “We are pleased to have Joe rejoin the Publix family in a different capacity,” said Publix Chairman of the Board Ed Crenshaw. “His more than 44 years of Publix experience, including being instrumental […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, Nonfood Items, Southwest
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 […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Executive News, Home Page Slider, West
Sprouts Farmers Market Names Phipps New Chief Marketing Officer
Phoenix, Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market, has named Gilliam Phipps as SVP, chief marketing officer, effective April 14. Phipps reports directly to Sprouts CEO Jack Sinclair and oversees Sprouts’ marketing, advertising, customer engagement and private label teams. “We’re extremely pleased to welcome Gil to the Sprouts team,” said Sinclair. “The experience Gil brings will be instrumental […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, National, Nonfood Items
Kroger, UFCW Urge Designating Grocery Workers As First Responders
The Kroger Co. and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) issued a joint statement April 14 calling on federal and state government to take swift action to designate associates at grocery stores as “extended first responders” or “emergency personnel.” The statement follows both Kroger’s and the UFCW’s direct advocacy on this topic with elected […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, Nonfood Items, Southeast
Lidl Updates Customers On Its Covid-19 Safety Measures
Lidl, with its U.S. headquarters based in Arlington, Virginia, has issued an update informing its customers on how it is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, saying that the health and safety of its team and its customers is top priority. The company is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, National, Nonfood Items
Covid Whistleblower Lawsuits Heating Up: What Industries Need To Know
Covid-19-related lawsuits are being filed nationwide, according to Kent Schmidt, a partner in the international law firm Dorsey & Whitney in its Southern California office, who specializes in business litigation. In an effort to detect trends in litigation and advise clients on how to prepare accordingly, Schmidt has been following these cases as they are […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, Nonfood Items, West
Stater Bros. Markets Extends Hourly Employees $2/Hour Wage Incentive
During the Covid-19 pandemic, all members of the Stater Bros. “family” have stepped up to continue providing essential services to their local communities. Stater Bros. Markets says it values all of its employees and as a reward for their tireless work and extra effort, the company is extending the $2/hour wage incentive for all hours […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, Nonfood Items, Southwest
1010data Dashboard: Walmart Online Grocery Sales Up 99% Y/Y In March
With an already strong e-commerce presence, Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart racked up impressive year-over-year online sales growth in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to 1010data, a provider of data and analytics to asset managers, retailers and CPG companies. It has amassed the following Walmart-specific data points—including online, click and collect and home delivery of Walmart […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, Midwest, Nonfood Items
Jostens Produces Health, Safety Products In Fight Against Covid-19
Jostens, the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based provider of custom class jewelry, graduation products and yearbooks serving the K-12 and college education markets, has joined the ranks of companies around the world to manufacture essential health and safety products to combat the spread of Covid-19. Jostens is leveraging the technology and manufacturing know-how of its graduation product and […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, COVID News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Slider, Nonfood Items, Southeast
Stop-Painting.Com Offers Visual Cues For Social Distancing
Wake Forest, North Carolina-based Stop-Painting.com is offering social distancing visual cues to aid in curtailing the spread of Covid-19 and to keep retail customers safe. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends staying six feet away from anyone who may be sick. Retail stores are encouraged to control the number of customers in […]
Posted inNonfood Items, COVID News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Slider, Marketing News, National
NCS: Consumer Spending Remains 23% Higher Than Pre-Covid Levels
NCSolutions (NCS), a company that improves advertising effectiveness for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) ecosystem, released new data April 9 showing average household grocery spend has fallen since the Covid-19 Extreme Buying peak but still remains elevated at 23 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels. This marked shift—coupled with a return to a grocery basket mix […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Guest Contributors, Home Page Slider, Midwest, Nonfood Items, Online Grocery Technology
Apply AI To Maximize Profitability Through Workforce Optimization
by Jason Harper/guest columnist, CEO and founder, RXA How much did you spend on labor last month? Last week? Today? What do you do when you are spending too much on labor? Overstaffing contributes to millions of dollars in bottom line losses for stores each year. On the other hand, what about when you don’t […]
Posted inPackaging News, Home Page Slider, Nonfood Items, Southeast
Recycling Isn’t The Only Answer For Packaging Sustainability
by Sam Jackson/guest columnist Recycling isn’t an excuse to keep packaging food in plastic anymore. Consumers are rightfully concerned that recycling isn’t as effective as they once thought, and they’re passing on products that are packaged in plastic, leaving brands to find new, more sustainable packaging. In previous years, most of U.S. recyclable plastic was […]