In a video presentation, Leslie Sarasin, president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) estimated that incremental expenses at the retail level required to prevent COVID-19 and incentivize workers amounted to $24 billion in 2020. The figure is based on a survey of 52 member companies representing 40 percent of the food retail industry, operating 14,000 stores.
This survey demonstrated that retailers responded to COVID by introducing in-store safety measures, providing staff bonuses, initiating curbside pickup and online ordering, providing PPE and extensive decontamination. The industry was proactive in implementing safety, workforce and other available technology to maintain business and to provide service in a responsible manner to customers and the workforce.