MONTPELIER, VT - Big-box retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Target are once again at the forefront of the news in implementation of solutions to our industry’s current challenges. This time, select grocery heavyweights are altering their in-store supply in order to only sell shoppers essential items from their brick-and-mortar stores.

The latest retail-led strategy to help enforce social distancing protocols was first implemented by Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), who directed big-box grocery retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Target to cease in-person sales of non-essential items in order to reduce the number of consumers coming into stores.

“Large ‘big box’ retailers generate significant shopping traffic by virtue of their size and the variety of goods offered in a single location,” said Lindsay Kurrle, ACCD Secretary, in a statement. “This volume of shopping traffic significantly increases the risk of further spread of this dangerous virus to Vermonters and the viability of Vermont’s health care system. We are directing these stores to put public health first and help us reduce the number of shoppers by requiring on-line ordering, delivery, and curbside pickup whenever possible and by stopping the sale of non-essential items.”

Of course, essential items include fresh produce and other grocery goods, which the ACCD also urged retailers to sell to shoppers via curb-side pick-up and online grocery delivery services wherever possible.

Will other states follow Vermont’s lead in streamlining grocery retailers’ supply of goods and how might we see it reflected in our own markets? AndNowUKnow will continue to report on both the buy- and supply-sides of the fresh produce industry.

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