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title: "IGA Alert: Everything you need to know about COVID-19 this week"
description: Forecast COVID-19's impact in your town; Nielsen reports on last week's category sales; CDC face covering tips; new webinars.
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Forecast COVID-19's impact in your town; Nielsen reports on last week's category sales; CDC face covering tips; new webinars.

| View in browser THIS WEEK'S FEATURED COVID-19 RESOURCES  Forecast Your Local COVID-19 Impact with Oliver Wyman's Pandemic Navigator   As COVID-19 cases increase and many states roll back to earlier phases of reopening, Oliver Wyman is helping IGA retailers prepare by making its COVID-19 Pandemic Navigator available to the entire Alliance.   Use the Navigator to see the predicted forecast for new and cumulative Coronavirus cases in your specific county, see how effective containment and suppression measures in your area have been, gain insights into how to manage after the peak, and study future containment scenarios that may be needed until a vaccine or a scale treatment solution is in place. Start exploring the Navigator now.  Total Store Growth Slows in Brick & Mortar, Grocery and Household Care Rise   In their weekly COVID-19 shopping insights, Nielsen reports that total store growth continued to slow down in brick & mortar, while online sales accelerated last week. Grocery and household care categories rose up to be in the top-five departments. Beverages and salty snacks accounted for most of the grocery growth both online and offline. For the first time since COVID started, alcohol lost its top-five department status.   Online growth was fueled by an increase in buyers, while trips and baskets remained strong. Shoppers continued to avoid going to stores with in-store trips consistently down in the latest COVID weeks with the exception of club and dollar channels. CDC Face Covering Tips   The CDC has created a graphic to help employees and customers learn the proper way to wear masks and other face coverings for maximum effectiveness and protection. Download, print, and post in your store where shoppers and employees can see. Help Shoppers Understand Fluctuating Prices   With beef prices increasing over the past couple of weeks, retailers may once again be fielding questions from shoppers about price fluctuations. Download these shelf signs to address shopper concerns about price fluctuations in core items.  Text Alerts Sent to Your Phone   Don't miss an update—subscribe to receive IGA Text Alerts and you’ll automatically receive a text notification whenever the IGA Alert eNews or IGA Minute are sent. Subscribe today.       WEBINARS Narrowing the SNAP Gap: How Independent Grocers Can Integrate SNAP Online   How can your store accept SNAP online? Join Progressive Grocer's webinar to hear from experts in the field, who share their proven experiences and practices on how to sign up, get approved, and start accepting SNAP online payment. Register for the Thursday, July 23 11:00 a.m. Eastern webinar here.  Coping With COVID: An Outlook on the Future Impact   When COVID cases increase among the general population, food retailers must remain ever vigilant in maintaining a high level of sanitation, safety, and trust.   In last week's webinar, Dr. David Acheson, former associate commissioner for foods at the FDA and chief medical officer at the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, discussed operational best practices, such as employee wellness screening, as well as potential trajectory of infections, vaccine development, and potential supply chain risks. Watch the full webinar here, courtesy of NGA.       IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Earning the Share We Have Received   The pandemic has brought great sales growth to grocers, and now it's time to build continued loyalty on top of that growth. IGA CEO John Ross examines how consumers' shopping habits have changed and explains how retailers can retain their shoppers once the pandemic is over. Eating Our Feelings: Snacking Up in COVID-19   The snack category is up 51 percent since early March, with 37 percent of shoppers making sure their pantries are stocked with snacks. Take a deep dive into the surging snack category with IGA's Heidi Huff and Red Oval Partner Mondelēz International's Jeff Schneider in this video interview.       Visit www.IGAALERT.com for live COVID-19 updates and how it impacts independent retailers. Sign up for text alerts here. In need of additional resources that aren't yet on IGA ALERT? Contact Ashley Page.        Follow us on Social Media. IGA Inc., 8745 West Higgins Road, STE 350, Chicago, IL 60631, United States Unsubscribe Manage preferences |
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