According to a recent article in Supermarket News, the FMI report entitled U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends Tracker: Back to School/Back to Office demonstrates obvious consumer concern over COVID.  More than half of those surveyed remain either Very or Extremely Cautious about COVID and emerging variants.  Shopping appears to be regarded as a risk activity and is regarded as apparently more serious than dining at restaurants or eating at home.  Changes in shopping habits will in all probability be adopted as a new normal with little change in the intermediate future. 

Back to school (such as it is) has not convinced parents that there will be a shift towards normal grocery shopping.  Recognizing anxiety and concern among consumers, many supermarket chains have encouraged vaccination of employees.  Following permanent approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, mandates are expected.  Supermarkets are still encouraging masking and social distancing in many areas of the nation, especially where state or local authorities have mandated masking in public.