5@5: Farmers destroy milk, eggs as demand plummets | Walmart grocery app hits record downloads

Farmers dump milk, break eggs as coronavirus restaurant closings destroy demand

America's farmers are desperately ramping down production as restaurants and cafeterias remain closed and supermarket demand fails to offset the decline in sales. Many of them have found it difficult to repackage their goods for retail and are resorting to destroying produce, dumping milk and crushing eggs to avoid losing profit. Read more at The Wall Street Journal…

Walmart grocery app sees record downloads amid COVID-19, surpasses Amazon by 20%

Walmart Grocery beat out Amazon's online shopping app by 20% in terms of downloads, hitting an all-time high and reaching No. 1 across all shopping apps on April 5. Overall, shopping app downloads have skyrocketed in tandem with stay-at-home orders, and experts believe many consumers will stick with the method of shopping even as the pandemic precautions wind down. Read more at Tech Crunch…

Fed studying if new facility for small business loans might be opened to non-bank lenders

The Federal Reserve is considering expanding a program backing Small Business Administration loans to include non-bank lenders. This move would speed up the distribution of the $350 billion in loans, and financial technology companies in particular have expressed interest in participating. Read more at Reuters…

Americans are 'craving comfort food' during coronavirus

Stress, boredom and a lack of supplies in many grocery stores has led to a resurgence in consumer preference for the sugary comfort foods of childhood. Breakfast items like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and dairy snacks are two key categories shoppers are seeking out to remind themselves of a simpler, pandemic-free time. Read more at USA Today…

Packaging and COVID-19: What's happening?

The pressure on packaging manufacturers has been high as people turn to delivery for their retail needs. Experts have noted that the chance of the virus being transmitted through packaging is slim, but consumer concerns have given way to innovation in packaging especially in the food sector. Chipotle, for example, introduced a seal that claims to clearly show if an item has been opened during delivery. Read more at EPDA Design Association…