Stop & Shop, a popular grocery chain in the northeastern United States, has announced that it will stop selling tobacco products at the end of the month.

The company said it made the decision to improve “the health and well-being of its communities.” In addition to stopping the sale of tobacco products, it also conducted cigarette buyback campaigns where customers could exchange unopened packs for gift cards and smoking cessation products.

RELATED STORY | FDA allows menthol-flavored e-cigarettes in hopes of getting smokers to quit

“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. “From our team of board-certified dietitians who serve our customers free of charge to our trained and trusted pharmacy associates, Stop & Shop aims to support the health and well-being of the neighborhoods we serve – and this exit from the tobacco business is another way to achieve that goal.”

Over the years, other chains have made similar decisions.

In 2014, pharmacy chain CVS banned tobacco products from its stores. Walmart announced it would stop selling tobacco products in 2022. The New York Times reported that Target stopped selling tobacco products in 1996.

Tobacco use in the United States has declined significantly over the years. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 11.5% of adults used cigarette products. In 2005, an estimated 20.9% smoked cigarettes.

RELATED STORY | More than 480,000 Americans die each year from the effects of tobacco use

Despite the decline in smoking rates, tobacco is still a leading cause of premature death in the United States, according to the CDC. The agency estimates that more than 480,000 people in the United States smoke cigarettes each year, accounting for one in five deaths.