Walmart will limit customers and create one-way traffic inside its stores at NBC News. “…only five customers per 1,000 square feet can enter a Walmart, which will be about 20 percent of each locale’s listed capacity…And in many stores…markers will be put down to direct shoppers to one-way foot traffic “so to help more customers avoid coming into close contact with others as they shop,” according to (Dacona) Smith.” Read more

 

CVS launches drive-thru rapid testing in Rhode Island and Georgia at CNBC. “The new sites will be open to all patients, but in order to receive an appointment for a test, customers will be required to preregister and prequalify online. No one will be admitted without  preregistering.” Read more

 

Amazon is reportedly delaying Prime Day due to COVID-19 at Reuters. “Amazon.com is postponing its major summer shopping event, Prime Day, until at least August and expects a potential $100 million hit from excess devices it might now sell at a discount, according to internal meeting notes seen by Reuters.” Read more

 

The Container Store to close all remaining stores at MarketWatch. “…it will switch to click & pick curbside pickup and in-store appointments only, with just one customer at a time to be allowed into a store in select locations where it is allowed and employees want to work.” Read more

 

Tyson Foods deploys walk-through temperature scanners at three US sites at CNBC. “The scanners can check employees’ temperature as they walk into the building. Tyson gave CNBC an exclusive first look at video of how the walk-through scanners work.” Read more/Pics

 

Walmart ramps up cleaning efforts after 2 Chicago-area employees die from coronavirus by Dalvin Brown at USA Today. “(Walmart) said it was changing the way it approaches sanitation following the deaths, including hiring a third-party company to clean and sanitize high-touch surfaces at the store.” Read more

 

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Walmart shareholders week events canceled, meetings to be virtual by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Walmart said the employee celebration that was set for June 5, won’t take place because the logistics and lead time required to get 5,000 employees to Northwest Arkansas has created too much uncertainty to ensure everyone’s safety given the state of COVID-19 pandemic.” Read more

 

‘We can’t make enough mac and cheese’: Processed food is undergoing a renaissance as people settle in for a long stretch of cooking at home by Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz at Chicago Tribune. “It’s like we’re in the ‘70s,” said Nicholas Fereday, executive director for food and consumer trends at Rabobank, a bank focused on food and agriculture. “People are revisiting brands they haven’t touched in a while.” Read more

 

Etsy reminds sellers making cloth face masks: Don’t suggest they prevent COVID-19 infection at The Verge. “Etsy sellers have sold hundreds of thousands of cloth face masks in the past few days, the company says, and demand is likely to outstrip supply soon…” Read more

 

UK cell towers torched amid bogus conspiracy theories that link 5G with coronavirus at CNBC. “Meanwhile, a clip also surfaced on Twitter showing a woman harassing telecoms engineers laying 5G fiber-optic cables. The woman questions why the engineers are working and claims the technology “kills people.” Read more

 

Walmart India encourages customers to order online at Economic Times. Read more

 

For Grocers, Eggs Are Getting More Expensive Amid Coronavirus at Wall Street Journal. “Egg prices across the U.S. averaged $3.01 a dozen at the end of last week, compared with 94 cents at the beginning of March, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. That rise far outpaces cost increases for other common foods like ground beef. Wholesale costs for whole chickens, butter, cheese and ham have fallen, despite consumers rushing to stock up, partly because of plunging demand from restaurants.” WSJ subs.

 

Dollar General adds ex-Mars exec to board at Nashville Post. Read more

 

Walmart plans to grow advertising profit center by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “Stephanie Prasad, a senior market manager with Walmart Media Group, took part in a recent webinar with market research firm Edge by Ascential to explain the list of services available to suppliers wanting to grow online sales through advertising with Walmart.” Read more

 

Panic-buying for coronavirus affects diabetes patients: They can’t find rubbing alcohol at Kaiser Health News via USA Today. “We’re all supposed to be staying at home, and I’m out going to 10 different stores,” said Gregory, 33, whose diabetes could heighten her risk for COVID-19 complications. “That’s also not safe.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Costco co-founder Jim Sinegal invests in virtual healthcare firm

New York City schools ban Zoom due to security concerns

Gun owners say rifles still malfunction after Remington class-action settlement repairs

Menards is preventing kids under 16 and pets from entering their stores

Ulta Beauty bumps Target from top pick list at JPMorgan

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