Circle K, the international convenience store chain, is donating a meal to those in need with every fuel transaction, even as the company's own sales have fallen precipitously due to coronavirus.
"We've seen local food bank demand just spike throughout this crisis," CEO Brian Hannasch told Cheddar on Monday. "Circle K is committed to being a part of the solution."
Feeding America, an umbrella organization that helps local food banks secure food, projects a $1.4 billion shortfall in supply over the next six months. The spike in demand comes as upwards of 17 million people have lost their jobs since the coronavirus outbreak hit the U.S. At the same time, federal aid is just beginning to reach people's bank accounts, leaving many Americans in a lurch.
Circle K is partnering with Feeding America to help meet that demand.
The charitable initiative comes as Circle K endures a massive drop in sales. Hannasch said customer visits are down 25 percent, and fuel purchases are down 30 to 50 percent.
"We're trying to stay open," he said. "We're taking a lot of steps to make sure that we protect our employees and our customers."
The company has installed clear barriers between clerks and customers and is aggressively cleaning the retail space each day.
Hannasch said that Circle K is hoping to retain as many employees as possible, particularly in nations without a strong social safety net. The chain has 7,000 sites in the U.S. across 48 states and can be found in more than 20 countries.
"We've really tried to keep people," he said. "In some countries, there are very strong social safety nets, so we have furloughed some people, particularly in Europe. In the U.S., we've put in an emergency $2.50 emergency wage supplement and paid sick leave."
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Spain's government has fined Airbnb 64 million euros or $75 million for advertising unlicensed tourist rentals. The consumer rights ministry announced the fine on Monday. The ministry stated that many listings lacked proper license numbers or included incorrect information. The move is part of Spain's ongoing efforts to regulate short-term rental companies amid a housing affordability crisis especially in popular urban areas. The ministry ordered Airbnb in May to remove around 65,000 listings for similar violations. The government's consumer rights minister emphasized the impact on families struggling with housing. Airbnb said it plans to challenge the fine in court.
Roomba maker iRobot has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but says that it doesn’t expect any disruptions to devices as the more than 30-year-old company is taken private under a restructuring process. iRobot said that it is being acquired by Picea through a court-supervised process. Picea is the company's primary contract manufacturer. The Bedford, Massachusetts-based anticipates completing the prepackaged chapter 11 process by February.
Serbia’s prosecutor for organized crime has charged a government minister and three others with abuse of position and falsifying of documents related to a luxury real estate project linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The charges came on Monday. The investigation centers on a controversy over a a bombed-out military complex in central Belgrade that was a protected cultural heritage zone but that is facing redevelopment as a luxury compound by a company linked to Kushner. The $500 million proposal to build a high-rise hotel, offices and shops at the site has met fierce opposition from experts at home and abroad. Selakovic and others allegedly illegally lifted the protection status for the site by falsifying documentation.
