Pickup gains ground over delivery

Grocers and restaurants are rapidly building out their pickup infrastructure as this method boosts sales at better margins than delivery. Nielsen data shows that pickup grocery sales were up 81% in the week ended June 13, proving shoppers are also valuing this service for its relative cheapness as wariness of public spaces lingers into the summer. Read more at The Wall Street Journal…

Fishermen hope for change as the seafood industry faces a crisis

Market disruptions, COVID-19 precautions and climate change stressors have left small-scale fishers around the world facing extreme hardship. U.S. fishermen have yet to see any of the $300 million that was allocated toward them through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Read more at Civil Eats…

How plant-based food makers have adjusted to the pandemic

Animal-based meat shortages and price hikes led to consumers cooking with plant-based meat alternatives early on in the pandemic, but how did companies ramp up production while keeping employees safe? Plant-based meat manufacturers, unlike conventional meatpackers, took the threat of the virus seriously early on and implemented safety measures and employee-facing education to protect workers immediately. Read more at SmartBrief…

China bans imports from Tyson Foods plan, citing COVID-19 cases

China has implemented a temporary ban on imports from an Arkansas meat processing plant owned by Tyson Foods after the company reported a large volume of positive COvID-19 cases at the facility. Should China choose to continue suspending imports of meat products from U.S. plants with high rates of infection, that would put a wide array of American meat processors in hot water. Read more at Modern Farmer…

Is this the future of click-and-collect?

Self-pickup is already seeing explosive growth in the U.S., following in the footsteps of now-ubiquitous self-checkout technology. This article explores robotic solutions that dispense orders in stores or drive-throughs that are "on the road map for 2021," according to one expert. Read more at Winsight Grocery Business…