Woonsocket, R.I. — CVS Health joined other pharmacy chains and retailers at the White House on April 27, 2020 to announce the next phase in COVID-19 testing. In addition to the large-scale test sites the company has been operating since March, CVS Health will utilize its expansive community presence to bring testing closer to home while maintaining strict safety standards. “Our industry has been united by the unique role we can play in addressing the pandemic and protecting people’s health,” says Larry J. Merlo, president and CEO, CVS Health. “We all …
retailers
Publix Launches Initiative to Purchase Leftover Food from Farmers, Donate to Feeding America
by Katie Lee
Lakeland, Fla. — Publix Inc. has launched an initiative to help feed families that purchase 150,000 pounds of produce and 43,500 gallons of leftover milk from Florida farmers. The Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer will then donate the excess items to Feeding America in the coming weeks. Feeding America projects that 17.1 million families in the United States will experience food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Like so many others right now, Florida farmers are in a time of need. We are humbled Publix is purchasing additional fresh vegetables from us and …
Alpharetta, Ga. — Neal Freeman, visionary of LakePoint Sports in Emerson, Ga., will begin construction in May on Fairway Social, a golf and entertainment concept that Freeman is bringing to Alpharetta, Ga. The 11,000-square-foot entertainment destination, Fairway Social, will be located in The Maxwell, a joint development between Mayfair Street Partners, LLC and The Providence Group of Georgia, LLC. A total of 44,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and office at The Maxwell will be complemented with 138 residential units. “We have been actively seeking this unique blend of food, …
Union, N.J. — Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has appointed John Hartmann as chief operating officer of Bed Bath & Beyond and president of buybuy BABY, effective May 18, 2020. He will report directly to Mark Tritton, president & CEO, and be a key member of a streamlined senior leadership team. Hartmann will lead key areas of the company’s transformation including IT, supply chain and real estate, working across the company’s five strategic growth pillars to accelerate decision-making and enhance connectivity across functions. He will also be responsible for re-engineering …
Bentonville, Ark. — Walmart recently committed to hiring more than 150,000 new associates by the end of May. Since then, the company has had over 1 million applicants, hiring an average of 5,000 people per day. Walmart reached its goal in less than a month — more than 6 weeks ahead of schedule. Today, the company is committed to hire an additional 50,000 associates. Hiring will be across Walmart’s stores, clubs, fulfillment and distribution centers, but this won’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. Hiring 50,000 new associates will give Walmart the …
Irving, Texas — Connex is bringing the national conference to you, April 20-22, 2020, virtually at www.national.connexfm.com, and it is free! Register online today for a variety of events including keynote sessions, FM education, roundtables and networking. Topics include: COVID Craziness Can Create Clarity, The Pandemic: You Had a Plan, Right?, FMevolution – How Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are Changing Maintenance, and many more — including roundtables on grocery and convenience store retail, managing dark stores, and more. “Distance makes us stronger for now — the Connex Community makes …
Manhattan Beach, Calif. — True Religion, a premium jeans retailer based in Manhattan Beach, Calif., filed papers in Delaware bankruptcy court on April 13, 2020. In its filing, the company stated that pandemic-related closure of all its retail location and all the stores of its wholesale buyers had accelerated “existing liquidity constraints.” Due to these factors, True Religion furloughed all nonessential employees and reentered Chapter 11, which it previously entered in July 2017. “While the debtors would have preferred to wait out the current instabilities of the financial markets and …
Greensboro, N.C. — Tanger Outlets has converted several of its outlets centers and parking lots to assist in coronavirus (COVID-19) relief efforts. The Greensboro, N.C.-based retailer has taken up food and supply drives to support families in the communities it serves. Additionally, the company has converted several of its parking lots to help police and EMS workers set up remote staging areas. Tanger is also still running blood drives with the American Red Cross at select locations. Click here for more information on Tanger services. SOURCE: Shopping Center Business …
Plano, Texas – PICKUP, an enterprise-grade, last mile delivery service company, is adding small item deliveries of groceries, household supplies, baby goods and pet products to support the overwhelming need for same-day delivery of essential goods to consumers. “In light of a 108% surge in e-commerce, accelerated by COVID-19 and social distancing, PICKUP quickly responded to the increasing consumer demand for contactless, last mile delivery from store, curb or distribution center in 51 markets across the country,” says Brenda Stoner, CEO of PICKUP. Traditionally focused on delivering big and heavy …
Newark, N.J. — The addition of Springfield Avenue Marketplace in Newark, N.J., punctuates Levin Management Corporation’s (LMC’s) established position as a go-to services provider for grocery-anchored shopping centers. In April, the North Plainfield, N.J.-based commercial real estate services firm took on the role of leasing and managing agent — at a time of significant, COVID-19 related business disruption. The 112,000-square-foot Springfield Avenue Marketplace, located in Newark’s desirable University Heights neighborhood, is anchored by a 67,000-square-foot ShopRite supermarket. The assignment represents LMC’s first with the property’s ownership. “Making a management transition …