Grocery stores are hiring to keep up with demand amid coronavirus outbreak

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

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Although most businesses are negatively affected by the global coronavirus outbreak, one sector that can scarcely keep up with demand is grocery stores. In fact, many across the country are hiring more workers during this time of intense need.

Kroger, which owns multiple grocery store chains nationwide, including Ralphs, Harris Teeter, Marianos, Food 4 Less and Fred Meyer, has openings for cashiers, grocery clerks and pharmacy technicians.

Other major chains hiring include Albertsons (Jewel-Osco, Safeway), which is hiring for jobs in retail, pharmacy, supply chain and corporate, and Cosentino’s, the parent company of  Price Choppers, Apple Market and Sun Fresh.

Kroger is also giving all employees two weeks paid sick leave during the outbreak.

AP Photo/LM Otero

Cosentino’s took to Twitter to let people who have lost their jobs due to the crisis know that they’re hiring:

“Sharing the good news!” reads the tweet. “If you have recently been laid off due to the COVID-19 epidemic, join our team! Our stores, Price Choppers, Apple Markets, Sun Fresh stores and Markets, are options! Visit consentinosjobs.com to apply!”

According to their job board, Costco is hiring for warehouse positions.

“[The company] is handling the surge of interest in purchasing emergency supplies in response to COVID-19 as well as our measures to provide a safe shopping environment,” a Costco spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “As always, our focus is to have merchandise available for our members at low warehouse prices.”

Online shopping is also up during this unprecedented turn of events, and Amazon plans to hire 100,000 more employees as warehouse workers and drivers across the country to accommodate the increase.

“We also know many people have been economically impacted as jobs in areas like hospitality, restaurants and travel are lost of furloughed as part of this crisis,” the company said in a statement. “We want those people to know we welcome them on our teams until things return to normal and their past employer is able to bring them back.”

Walmart is looking to hire 500 truck drivers right now as well.

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Kate Streit

Kate Streit lives in Chicago. She enjoys stand-up comedy, mystery novels, memoirs, summer and pumpkin spice anything. More.

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