As the COVID-19 outbreak accelerates in Europe and the United States, governments, businesses and consumers are rapidly changing behaviors. In its March 26 report titled “COVID-19 Impact: Consumer Spending Tracker for MULOC Retailers – US, UK, France, Italy, NZ,” Chicago-based Information Resources Inc. (IRI) collaborated with its partners at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to analyze the latest consumer purchases in these respective countries.

The Coca-Cola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co., announced it is awarding a total of $13.5 million in grants to five nonprofit organizations that are working on the front lines of the U.S. and Canadian humanitarian response to the coronavirus pandemic.

PepsiCo Inc., Purchase, N.Y., it will provide enhanced benefits to all U.S.-based employees and additional compensation to U.S. frontline employees — the women and men who make, move and sell products — amidst the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Bacardi Ltd., Hamilton, Bermuda, launched the hashtag #RaiseYourSpirits, an initiative to support bars and restaurants debilitated by the COVID-19 shutdown.

St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch, one of the country's largest sponsor of live sports and entertainment, announced that it will redirect sports and entertainment investments to its nonprofit partners to respond to the COVID-19 public health crisis. 

With guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and exemptions and authorizations granted by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), many spirits-makers are helping to manufacture ethanol-based hand sanitizer.

Oahu, Hawaii-based KO‘OLAU Distillery, makers of Old Pali Road Whiskey, announced it is shifting production to begin supplying hand sanitizer for critical services. 

In light of recent events with the fast spread of COVID-19, British Columbia-based Victoria Distillers, home of Empress 1908 Gin, has team up with local company Nezza Naturals, to create a free, not-for-profit hand sanitizer with essential oils and the alcohol that is leftover from each distillation.

Like many distilleries, Montpelier, Vt.-based Caledonia Spirits has had to temporarily shutter its on-site bar and retail stores in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the craft distillery is trying to do what it can to contribute to what is now a global fight against the spread of the disease. 

In a recent blog post, advertising analytics firm Ace Metrix, El Segundo, Calif., revealed insights about the first COVID-19 related ads from Guinness, Ford and Verizon. The technology company also unveiled consumer reactions to the initial ads addressing the virus.