Tag Archives: business

Business Insider reports: Instacart is on a hiring spree. The company announced Thursday that it would be hiring 250,000 new workers to help it meet the surge in demand for online delivery options during the coronavirus pandemic; it had already hired 300,000 new people in the past month. Instacart is a delivery company that pairs customers with personal shoppers who …

USA Today reports: McDonald’s is introducing free “Thank You Meals” for first responders and health care workers serving on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, the fast-food giant announced Tuesday. Starting Wednesday and through May 5, health care workers, police officers, firefighters and paramedics can get a free meal at participating restaurants nationwide available at the drive thru or …

The New York Post reports: Lord & Taylor is exploring filing for bankruptcy protection after it was forced to temporarily shut all of its 38 US department stores in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. It is one of several options that the retailer and its advisers are exploring, which also include …

The Washington Post reports: The federal government gave national hotel and restaurant chains millions of dollars in grants before the $349 billion program ran out of money Thursday, leading to a backlash that prompted one company to give the money back and a Republican senator to say that “millions of dollars are being wasted.” Ruth’s Chris Steak House, a chain …

Reuters reports: Neiman Marcus Group is preparing to seek bankruptcy protection as soon as this week, becoming the first major U.S. department store operator to succumb to the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, people familiar with the matter said. The debt-laden Dallas-based company has been left with few options after the pandemic forced it to temporarily shut all 43 …

USA Today reports: Walmart and Sam’s Club will require employees to wear masks or other face coverings starting Monday to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Shoppers also will be encouraged to wear face masks as part of the retailers’ updated COVID-19 response. The retail giant announced the changes in a letter sent to employees that was posted on Walmart.com …

USA Today reports: J.C. Penney is considering filing for bankruptcy protection as the retailer grapples with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and its own long-in-the-making struggles. The Plano, Texas-based company is exploring the possibility along with a range of other options, including out-of-court debt restructuring, according to a person familiar with the deliberations who was not authorized to speak …

USA Today reports: Ticketmaster has updated the wording of its refund policy for postponed events, and customers are not happy. With large gatherings across the nation either canceled or postponed due to the spread of coronavirus, many ticket-holders are seeking refunds for concerts, sports and other events. According to an image captured by the The New York Times, a page …

Axios reports: Seven in 10 people now consider going to the grocery store a risky act — and a majority of Americans say they’ve started wearing masks outside their homes at least sometimes — in the latest installment of the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index. Just 28% said having food delivered to their homes poses a moderate or large risk, compared to …

Gizmodo reports: As Amazon buckles under the increased demand presented by social distancing guidelines and shelter-at-home orders, the company now says that new customers to its Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market grocery delivery services are being waitlisted. An Amazon spokesperson told Gizmodo by email that the waitlist is a result of both “restricted capacity due to social distancing as …

Reuters reports: Smithfield Foods, the world’s biggest pork processor, said on Sunday it will shut a U.S. plant indefinitely due to a rash of coronavirus cases among employees and warned the country was moving “perilously close to the edge” in supplies for grocers. Slaughterhouse shutdowns are disrupting the U.S. food supply chain, crimping availability of meat at retail stores and …

Food Safety News reports: Conagra Brands has recalled certain Healthy Choice chicken products because of complaints from consumers about rocks in the products. The company reports distributing the products nationwide, as well as exporting them to Canada, according to a recall notice posted by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). “FSIS is concerned that some product may be …

Business Insider reports: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that the US economy could reopen in May if President Donald Trump decides the public health crisis is under control. When CNBC’s Jim Cramer asked Mnuchin if “we could be open for business in the month of May,” the secretary responded, “I do.” “As soon as the president feels comfortable with …

Via press release from Walgreens: Furthering its commitment to provide greater access to COVID-19 testing and community resources, Walgreens is working to expand drive-thru testing to 15 new sites in seven states, the company announced today. The states included are Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas. The expansion is a next step building on Walgreens’ collaboration with the …

The Virginian Pilot reports: The liquor laws in Virginia just keep loosening their belts. As of Monday, any of 45 Virginia distilleries can now FedEx or UPS their liquor directly to customers — at least for the duration of the coronavirus state of emergency. The news came came via an announcement on the ABC’s website and Twitter account Monday morning. …

Reuters reports: Walmart said on Friday it would limit the number of customers in a store at a time, starting April 4, to encourage social distancing among its customers. It said it will now allow no more than five customers per 1,000 square feet at a given time and that they would be admitted one by one and counted by …

USA Today reports: Retail giant Macy’s said it will furlough a “majority” of employees as companies continue to navigate how to operate during the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement Monday, Macy’s said “the majority of our colleagues” will go on furlough starting this week. As of its 2019 fourth quarter, Macy’s had 125,000 employees and 775 stores nationwide. Macy’s says …

The Hill reports: Police on Thursday charged a Pennsylvania woman for making terrorist threats after she coughed on grocery store food while claiming to be sick. Margaret Cirko, 35, allegedly “intentionally contaminated” grocery items by coughing and spitting on them, claiming to be sick while attempting to steal a pack of beer, according to the Hanover Township Police Department. The …

The Hollywood Reporter reports: China’s film regulators have slammed the brakes on plans to gradually reopen the country’s cinemas. Over 600 movie theaters across China were given the green light to reopen their doors over the past week, but Beijing’s Film Bureau put out a notice late Friday ordering all theaters to go back into shutdown. No official explanation for …

Via press release from the Ralph Lauren Corporation: In response to COVID-19, the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation, formerly known as the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation, is committing $10 million to help our teams, our partners and our communities impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the Ralph Lauren Corporation is starting the production of 250,000 masks and 25,000 isolation …