Category: National

Retail sales rose in June, seeing both a monthly increase and their first year-over-year gain since the beginning of the year as more retailers and other businesses closed by the coronavirus pandemic reopened, but continued COVID-19 outbreaks remain a threat, the National Retail Federation (NRF) says. “The retail sales numbers from last month were very […]

With the increase in COVID-19 cases across the country, Kroger says it is committed to doing its part to help reduce the spread of the virus. Kroger’s most urgent priority throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been to provide a safe environment for associates and customers while meeting its societal obligation to provide open stores, e-commerce […]

Parents, grandparents and teachers are already preparing for fall and an unknown back-to-school season. More than half of those already planning for next school year (63 percent) are thinking differently about upcoming back-to-school spending due to COVID-19, planning to put less of their dollars toward frivolous purchases and more toward essential items and remote learning […]

Convenience retailers say they are continuing to enhance store operations to address new consumer preferences related to safety protocols and convenient shopping options that have emerged from the coronavirus pandemic. Nine in 10 stores (89 percent) have installed plexiglass barriers at checkout, and 87 percent provide hand sanitizer inside the store. Convenience stores sell an […]

Service Management Group, a global customer, patient and employee experience management partner to more than 500 brands, has published new grocery research about how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting consumer behavior, shifting expectations and changing shopping habits. Using BrandGeek – SMG’s market intelligence tool – SMG collected feedback from nearly 6,400 respondents to understand consumer preferences and what grocery brands […]