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Business
Walmart Launches 'Plus' In Challenge To Amazon Prime's Dominance Walmart Launches 'Plus' In Challenge To Amazon Prime's Dominance
Walmart Launches 'Plus' In Challenge To Amazon Prime's Dominance In a challenge to online shopping behemoth Amazon, Walmart is launching its own online retail delivery service. On Tuesday, Sept. 1, Walmart unveiled Walmart Plus (Walmart+), a membership program that grants subscribers unlimited free delivery, fuel discounts, and no checkout lines, according to the mega retailer’s announcement. Touted as a rival to Amazon Prime membership service, which offers free two-day deliveries, streaming, and video services, the Walmart program will cost $98 a year or $12.95 per month. It will become available on Sept. 15. Walmart is promising Plus members free sam…

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by Kristin Palpini
Business
Amazon Gets FAA Approval To Deliver Packages By Drone Amazon Gets FAA Approval To Deliver Packages By Drone
Amazon Gets FAA Approval To Deliver Packages By Drone Half-hour deliveries may soon be a reality. A fleet of drones is now poised to deliver packages for Amazon  Prime now that the Federal Aviation Administration has granted the mogul company approval to deliver unmanned packages on Monday, Aug. 31. The company said that it went through a rigorous approval process, including demonstrating the safety and efficiency of its drones to FAA officials.  “This certification is an important step forward for Prime Air and indicates the FAA’s confidence in Amazon’s operating and safety procedures for an autonomous drone delivery service that w…

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by Christina Coulter
Business
Parent Company Of Balducci’s, Kings Food Markets Files For Bankruptcy Parent Company Of Balducci’s, Kings Food Markets Files For Bankruptcy
Parent Company Of Balducci’s, Kings Food Markets Files For Bankruptcy KB US Holdings, the parent company of Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market, which has locations throughout the region, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The company announced this week that “it has accepted a stalking horse bid from TLI Bedrock to purchase the company for $75 million.” To facilitate the sale, KB and its subsidiaries have commenced voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Kings currently operates 25 specialty supermarkets, including 23 in New Jerse…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: Here's How Much Longer Clorox Wipes Will Remain Scarce, Company CEO Says COVID-19: Here's How Much Longer Clorox Wipes Will Remain Scarce, Company CEO Says
Covid-19: Here's How Much Longer Clorox Wipes Will Remain Scarce, Company CEO Says There is no end in sight to the Covid-19-fueled national shortage in Clorox disinfecting wipes--according to company president Linda Rendle, Clorox won't be fully restocked in stores until at least 2021.  "Given the fact cold and flu (season) sits in the middle of the (fiscal) year, and we expect the pandemic to be with us for the entirety of the year, it will take the full year to get up to the supply levels that we need to be at," Rendle said Monday, Aug. 18 during an earnings call. Searching the product on Amazon leads buyers to an ominous message: "we don't know when or if this ite…

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by Christina Coulter
Business
Amazon To Open Operations Facility In Hudson Valley, Creating Hundreds Of Jobs Amazon To Open Operations Facility In Hudson Valley, Creating Hundreds Of Jobs
Amazon To Open Operations Facility In Hudson Valley, Creating Hundreds Of Jobs Hundreds of jobs are coming to the Hudson Valley as Amazon prepares for its latest venture in New York. This week, Amazon announced that it plans to launch a state-of-the-art operations facility in Orange County in Montgomery in time for the 2021 holiday season, generating more than 800 full-time jobs. The fulfillment center, which will span more than 1,000,000-square-feet near the intersection of Route 17K and Route 747 has been in the works for more than a year. The $75.2 million project had to be approved by the Town Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board, the town’s Industr…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Amazon To Open New Delivery Centers In Hudson Valley COVID-19: Amazon To Open New Delivery Centers In Hudson Valley
Covid-19: Amazon To Open New Delivery Centers In Hudson Valley Amazon is increasing its foothold in the Hudson Valley as it plans for at least two new delivery centers throughout the state that will open by the end of the year. Amazon Logistics announced on Thursday, July 9 that it has signed various leases with the plan to open up new delivery stations in New Windsor in Orange County and in Blauvelt in Rockland County. According to Amazon, delivery stations mark the last mile of the company’s order fulfillment process. Packages are transported to delivery stations from Amazon fulfillment centers, sorted, and then loaded into vehicles for delivery to …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Another Giant Clothier Falls: These NJ, NY, CT Brooks Brothers Stores Are Closed For Good Another Giant Clothier Falls: These NJ, NY, CT Brooks Brothers Stores Are Closed For Good
Another Giant Clothier Falls: These NJ, NY, CT Brooks Brothers Stores Are Closed For Good It was the clothier that dressed 40 presidents, brought us the button-down polo shirt and survived not only the Great Depression and two world wars but also casual Fridays. But like so many other traditional retailers, Brooks Brothers was no match for the coronavirus. The 202-year-old company – considered America's oldest apparel seller -- on Wednesday filed for bankruptcy protection while announcing that 38 stores that it closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic weren't reopening. The shuttered stores in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut include: The Shops at Riverside, Hackensack; 2381…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Business
COVID-19: Retail Workers Across Country Stage 'Sickout' COVID-19: Retail Workers Across Country Stage 'Sickout'
Covid-19: Retail Workers Across Country Stage 'Sickout' Employees at some of the nation’s largest retailers are staging a one-day “sickout” strike on International Workers Day to protest conditions during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Hundreds of workers at Amazon warehouses, Target, Whole Foods, and employee shoppers at Instacart and Shipt called in sick on Friday, May 1 in protest of what they described as inadequate safety precautions during the pandemic. According to Target Workers Unite!, which organized the sickout, “foot traffic and guest behavior have been atrocious, putting us at needless risk when greater safety measures are…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: Reports Of 'Mass Call Out' Of Employees 'Grossly Exaggerated,' Amazon Says COVID-19: Reports Of 'Mass Call Out' Of Employees 'Grossly Exaggerated,' Amazon Says
Covid-19: Reports Of 'Mass Call Out' Of Employees 'Grossly Exaggerated,' Amazon Says A planned “mass call out” of Amazon employees over safety concerns amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was “grossly exaggerated,” according to the retail giant. Hundreds of Amazon employees said this week that they have pledged not to go into work, according to worker rights group United for Respect. “Amazon's response to the coronavirus outbreak has unnecessarily put the lives of Amazon employees at increased risk and exposure,"  the group wrote online. "There are now over 130 warehouses where employees have contracted COVID-19 (Coronavirus) including some warehouses with …

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: Amazon Warehouse Workers To Stage 'Mass Call Out' For Greater Safety Protections COVID-19: Amazon Warehouse Workers To Stage 'Mass Call Out' For Greater Safety Protections
Covid-19: Amazon Warehouse Workers To Stage 'Mass Call Out' For Greater Safety Protections This story has been updated. Hundreds of Amazon employees are planning a “mass call out” by calling in sick this week to protest the company’s response during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. At least 300 Amazon employees have pledged to not go into work beginning on Tuesday, April 21, according to worker rights group United for Respect. “Amazon's response to the coronavirus outbreak has unnecessarily put the lives of Amazon employees at increased risk and exposure,"  the group wrote online. "There are now over 130 warehouses where employees have contracted COVID-19 (Coronav…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: Amazon Facing Another NY Strike After 25 Employees Test Positive COVID-19: Amazon Facing Another NY Strike After 25 Employees Test Positive
Covid-19: Amazon Facing Another NY Strike After 25 Employees Test Positive Workers at a New York Amazon warehouse walked off the job for the second time after more employees contracted novel coronavirus (COVID-19) while working in Staten Island. Employees at Amazon’s distribution center - known as JFK8 - began a strike at noon on Monday, April 6, amid complaints that more than two dozens warehouse staffers have tested positive for COVID-19. The workers are demanding that Amazon temporarily close down the warehouse for sanitizing, while employees are provided with full pay. They’ve also requested an increase in their daily paid break for each shift, staggered shift…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Firing Of Amazon Worker Who Organized Walkout Sparks Backlash COVID-19: Firing Of Amazon Worker Who Organized Walkout Sparks Backlash
Covid-19: Firing Of Amazon Worker Who Organized Walkout Sparks Backlash An Amazon warehouse employee in New York who organized a strike as he demanded greater protections for employees amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has been fired. Chris Smalls, an hourly employee at a Staten Island Amazon warehouse, helped organize a strike of employees who alleged that a co-worker was diagnosed with the virus and the retail giant didn’t take proper precautions. Smalls was fired on Monday, March 30, following the strike. “Since the building won’t close by itself, we’re going to have to force (Amazon’s) hand,” Chris Smalls said to CNBC this week. “We …

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by Zak Failla