— A spokesperson for grocers in Wisconsin is urging lawmakers to take action this session to allow e-commerce alcohol sales and reduce retail theft.
Jim Hyland, vice president of communications and public affairs for Roundy’s Supermarkets, spoke yesterday during a hearing hosted by the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economy and Small Business Development.
He said the grocery industry continues to work through a “pandemic-induced hangover,” highlighting inflation as a major concern for both consumers and grocers. Against that backdrop of higher prices, he said online grocery shopping will “continue to play a key role” for the industry this year.
“The pandemic years propelled digital grocery sales into the mainstream and had grocers scrambling to optimize their e-commerce offerings as shopping habits shifted toward buying groceries online for obvious reasons,” he said.
Citing industry data, he said digital grocery sales grew more than 40 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year. While that growth has since leveled off, he said online grocery sales are still three or four times as high as pre-pandemic levels and rising faster than in-store grocery as a percentage of the total U.S. market this year.
He added the average annual spend for a digital grocery shopper is estimated to rise from $850 in 2021 to $1,500 in 2025. With that trend in mind, he called for legislation to allow for “seamless integration of alcohol within an e-commerce grocery order” including both curbside pickup or delivery. He said such a bill “would be beneficial to the millions of grocery customers” in Wisconsin.
“We think we can be much more efficient as a grocer if we get that passed,” he said.
Meanwhile, he noted retail theft at grocery stores has also increased in recent years, and called on legislators to consider passing a law to address that “major problem” for the industry. He described an “organized retail crime approach” to such theft, which involves selling the stolen goods online or elsewhere.
“We’re hoping the Wisconsin Legislature will consider retail theft legislation during the current session that will give serial offenders as well as those contemplating retail theft second thoughts about their actions,” he said.
Watch a video of the hearing: https://wiseye.org/2023/03/08/assembly-committee-on-jobs-economy-and-small-business-development-2/
— Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, says Dem Gov. Tony Evers’ plan to provide $290 million in taxpayer money upfront to the board that oversees the Milwaukee Brewers stadium is likely “dead” and Republicans will find a different plan.
Vos has been critical of Evers’ proposal since it was released, and he again ripped it yesterday following an Assembly Rules Committee meeting.
Vos said he hasn’t yet spoken with his caucus or Senate Republicans about an alternative. Still, he told reporters he would prefer to see something patterned after what the state did with the Milwaukee Bucks as the NBA team looked for public support to build a new stadium.
Vos said he wants to see a longer commitment from the Brewers to remain in Milwaukee for less taxpayer money.
“I think the deal that he cut is not a very good one for the taxpayers, but again I want to be able to look at all the details and understand the numbers more than what he did was, which I think is just a lazy way of saying here’s a one-time revenue source giving a huge gift as opposed to explaining the economic reasons to do it,” Vos said.
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said the Oostburg Republican hadn’t met with the Brewers yet and was waiting to do so before discussing with his caucus if what Evers proposed was a viable option.
Evers’ budget calls for putting $290 million in state general purpose revenue into the board that oversees the Brewers stadium. That money would be invested and the proceeds used to cover maintenance costs required under the team’s contract with the stadium district. In exchange, the team would extend its lease, which currently runs through 2030, to 2043.
— A group of business, labor and GOP leaders has formed a coalition to find a “bipartisan solution” that would keep the Brewers in Milwaukee.
Dubbed the Home Crew Coalition, it will be chaired by Omar Shaikh, a Milwaukee area restaurateur and developer.
In its announcement yesterday, the group didn’t explicitly back Evers’ proposal. The group also said it plans to raise awareness about the benefits of the ballpark, but didn’t specify how.
Notable GOP political figures who are part of the coalition include:
*former state GOP Chair Mike Grebe;
*former GOP state Sen. Dan Kapanke, who owns the La Crosse Loggers;
*Jim Villa, of NAIOP Wisconsin, and a former adviser to Scott Walker.
See the release:
— A Senate committee has again unanimously backed Anne Sayers’ appointment as Tourism Secretary.
The Senate Agriculture and Tourism Committee also voted 9-0 last year to back her appointment, but it didn’t make it to the Senate floor before session ended.
Since then, Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, has said the guv’s various appointments would work their way through the confirmation process again this session.
Sayers was appointed secretary after Evers’ original appointee, Sara Meaney, left in late 2020 to return to the private sector.
— Fetch has launched new receipt-scanning technology for its shopper rewards app, the Madison-based company announced.
According to a release, the new tech improves item recognition accuracy. David Berk, president of product and technology for Fetch Group, says receipt understanding presents a “very complex problem.”
“There is no unifying standard of what retailers print on receipts, and we have a fraction of an instant to turn a mobile image into clear, accurate, machine-readable understanding,” he said in a statement.
See more at Madison Startups: https://www.madisonstartups.com/fetch-launches-new-receipt-tech/
Check out a WisBusiness.com podcast with Fetch CEO Wes Schroll: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2022/wisbusiness-the-podast-with-wes-schroll-fetch-rewards/
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report …</b></i>
— AARP estimates family caregivers in Wisconsin provided about $9.2 billion in unpaid care in 2021, according to the organization’s latest report.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
Sign up here: http://forms.gle/o8FtqTLviGJPja8C9
#TOP STORIES#
# Madison Common Council OKs lawsuit against Kia, Hyundai over car thefts
# Seven Acre Dairy Company connects with Paoli’s roots
# Here’s how Wisconsin stacked up to other states for VC funding in 2022
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin farmers attend National Farmers Union Convention
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=281&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Women in construction build strong foundations with other women during industry celebration
– City vote to build Woodman’s Center could be on hold until August
# ECONOMY
– Milwaukee’s population has shrunk for decades. Can it finally grow?
– New York firm providing more than $20 million in financing for Iron District’s affordable housing development
# FOOD AND BEVERAGE
– Halal burger restaurant The Fatty Patty opens in West Allis
– Boba tea shop SereniTea planned in former Chancery space on Downer Avenue
– The Buzz: This pizza restaurant serving Chicago-style pies will close March 18
# MANAGEMENT
– Perlick Corp. names new president and CEO
# NONPROFIT
– La Crosse County awards $90,000 in grants to 13 nonprofits
# REAL ESTATE
– Regal Ware likely to relocate headquarters to Milwaukee County from Kewaskum
– Culver’s, Panda Express and a flurry of new businesses are planned on Monroe Road in Bellevue
# SPORTS
– Industry represented on coalition formed to keep Brewers in Wisconsin
# TOURISM
– Milwaukee Chamber Theatre meets emergency fundraising goal
– Milwaukee Chamber Theatre hits fundraising goal, will proceed with 2023-24 season
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
AARP: Family caregivers in Wisconsin provide $9.2 billion in unpaid care to loved ones
