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Minnesota governors get COVID boosters at Cub Foods

Cub pharmacies exceed 130,000 coronavirus vaccinations

Russell Redman

October 29, 2021

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Cub Foods

Cub Foods has the distinction of not only administering a COVID-19 vaccination to Minnesota’s current governor but also giving one to its former governor on the same day — twice.

Before TV cameras, Stillwater, Minn.-based Cub injected Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and his predecessor, Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, with COVID boosters on Oct. 26 at its Northside store on 701 W. Broadway Ave. in Minneapolis. The store’s pharmacy team also administered a booster to Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm.

In March, Walz also received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine alongside Pawlenty in a bipartisan effort to encourage Minnesotans to get immunized against coronavirus. 

“Federal authorization of [Pfizer], Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 booster doses means more Minnesotans will be able to maximize their protection against COVID-19,” Walz said at the event. “As a Johnson & Johnson recipient myself, I am excited to be able to get boosted protection against this virus, especially as the weather gets colder, the holidays approach, and more of our interactions and activities move indoors. Minnesotans who are recommended to get a booster should roll up their sleeves and get their shot.” 

Cub Foods CEO Mike Stigers also attended the event. Before receiving their shots, Walz, Pawlenty and Malcolm held a brief media event to highlight the importance of getting the booster shot when recommended. 

Related:Cub Foods eyes crisper produce operations

“Cub has been a part of the Minnesota community for over 50 years, and over the past several months, our 81 pharmacies have provided over 130,000 COVID-19 vaccines,” Stigers said. “I am extremely proud of our entire team’s commitment throughout the pandemic to ensure our communities have access to food and health services they need most in their daily lives.”

Through Oct. 27, 72% of adults in Minnesota had received full COVID-19 vaccinations, including 92.5% of seniors and 71.3% of those ages 16 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Part of United Natural Foods Inc., Cub Foods has a retail network of more than 80 supermarkets, primarily in the Twin Cities market but also including one Illinois store.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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