GIANT FOOD INSTALLING TOBACCO SERVICE UNITS

RICHARD TURCSIK

LANDOVER, Md. -- Giant Food here, in an effort to halt cigarette sales to minors, is in the process of installing manned tobacco service counters in all of its 162 supermarkets.

The tobacco service counters will accommodate loose pack sales and serve to eliminate self-service vending machines in most Giant locations, Mark Roeder, public relations supervisor at Giant, told SN.

The service counters will be installed in all of Giant's supermarkets by the end of this year, and will be located at the front of the store, next to the courtesy counter. Roeder did not know if having the service counters would require additional staffing, which would add to the operating overhead of the stores.

"After we install that counter we are going to remove the cigarette vending machines from all of our stores, except those that are open 24 hours," Roeder said. "In our 24-hour stores, we will keep token-operated vending machines because our customer service department is not open all night long."

As reported, Giant, in more than 20 of its stores, has been testing cigarette vending machines that operate with a token that can only be purchased from a cashier. Cashiers are told to view identification of any customer who looks underage, Roeder said.

"We're continuing to install the token machines in more and more of our stores," Roeder said.

He noted that Giant's plan to install service counters has been in the works for some time, and was not a result of President Clinton's plan to crack down on teen smoking, which was announced Aug. 10.

The White House proposal would ban self-service cigarette displays and cigarette vending machines. Another facet would ban cigarette brand sponsorship of sporting events and brand name advertising on unrelated consumer products, such as hats and backpacks.

The plan would also prohibit billboard ads for cigarettes near schools and permit only black-and-white, text-only advertisements in publications in which more than 15% of the readership is under 18. The tobacco industry would also have to create a $150 million advertising campaign to discourage children from smoking.

Giant's move does not involve carton sales. Cartons will continue to be sold from self-service towers in most stores, Roeder said.