August 26, 2024, 10:27 p.m. • Last updated: August 26, 2024, 10:27 p.m.
Stop & Shop has announced that it will stop selling all cigarettes and tobacco products in its 360 stores in the Northeastern United States – including nearly 90 in Connecticut – by the end of this week. Photo courtesy of Stop & Shop
Stop & Shop announced Monday that it would stop selling all cigarettes and tobacco products in its 360 stores in the northeastern United States, including nearly 90 in Connecticut, by the end of this week.
The grocer said the decision is in part an expansion of its commitment to promoting community wellness. In addition to its pharmacy, Stop & Shop offers customers access to board-certified dietitians who focus on food and nutrition. Nutrition Partners offers customers free training and resources.
The move to end tobacco sales was accompanied by a smoking cessation initiative that included cigarette buyback campaigns in Boston and on Staten Island in New York.
Stop & Shop’s move follows other major retailers such as CVS, Walmart and Target that have removed tobacco products from all or some of their stores.
Stop & Shop’s move was praised by the American Cancer Society.
“This is a step in the right direction toward ending the tobacco industry’s influence on children, and we know more can be done to reduce the impact of tobacco use in our communities,” said Karen E. Knudsen, executive director of the Cancer Society and Cancer Action Network of the American Cancer Society. “From state and local governments to schools and businesses, we can all do our part to protect public health.”
Knudsen urged state lawmakers to prioritize funding for “tobacco control” programs to support smoking cessation efforts.
Stop & Shop declined to provide any information on the grocery retailer’s annual turnover from the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products or what percentage these represent of total sales.
The grocer cited statistics from the World Health Organization that show 780 million people worldwide want to quit smoking, but only 30% have the support they need to do so.
“Our responsibility as a grocer extends far beyond our shelves, and we are committed to taking bold steps to help our associates, customers and communities achieve better health outcomes,” said Gordon Reid, president of Stop & Shop, based in Quincy, Massachusetts.
“From our team of board-certified dietitians who serve our customers free of charge to our trained and trusted pharmacy staff, Stop & Shop aims to support the health and well-being of the communities we serve – and this tobacco cessation is another way we are achieving that goal.”
