new York
CNN
—
Stop & Shop will stop selling cigarettes and tobacco products this month, joining other major chains that have also stopped selling these unhealthy products.
The supermarket chain, which operates around 360 stores primarily in the northeastern United States, said the changes were part of its “commitment to community welfare” and would stop selling all cigarettes and tobacco products on Saturday, August 31.
“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 work toward better health outcomes,” said Gordon Reid, president of Stop & Shop, in a statement.
Public health officials have long called on retailers to stop selling tobacco products, and some cities and states have also banned tobacco sales in pharmacies. In response, the American Cancer Society said it was “pleased to work with Stop & Shop to end sales.”
“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 burden of tobacco in our communities,” Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, said in the statement. “We urge state lawmakers to prioritize funding for tobacco control programs so that those motivated to quit through these efforts have the tools they need to succeed.”
Previously, Walmart announced it would stop selling cigarettes in some of its U.S. stores in 2022. CVS stopped selling tobacco in 2014, saying it was “inconsistent with our purpose” of being a healthcare provider. Target stopped selling tobacco in 1996.
However, other major chains such as Publix, Albertson’s and Kroger, as well as Costco in some locations, continue to sell tobacco.
Stop & Shop is owned by Dutch company Ahold Delhaize, which recently closed 32 low-revenue grocery stores.
