Stop & Shop to stop selling tobacco products

Stop & Shop will stop selling all cigarettes and tobacco products at its 360 stores, the grocer announced Monday. 

The grocery retailer, which has stores across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, plans to end sales of all tobacco products at all stores by August 31 as a part of the brand’s “commitment to community wellness.”

“Our responsibility as a grocer goes far beyond our aisles, and we are committed to taking bold steps to help our associates, customers, and communities work towards better health outcomes,” said Stop & Shop President Gordon Reid. “Stop & Shop aims to support the health and well-being of the neighborhoods we serve–and this exit from tobacco is one more way we’re accomplishing that goal.”

Stop & Shop is encouraging customers to quit smoking by hosting two cigarette-buyback events on August 28, at locations in neighborhoods within the brand’s footprint that have higher rates of smoking and smoking-related health issues, the retailer said. 

At both events, the first 100 customers who bring in an unopened pack or carton of cigarettes to trade in will receive a Stop & Shop gift card, as well as a bag filled with healthy snacks, mints, smoking-cessation materials created in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), as well as $10 off coupons for Nicorette.

The buyback events will take place at the Grove Hall, Boston, Stop & Shop location at 460 Blue Hill Ave., and at Stop & Shop’s store location at 1351 Forest Ave. on Staten Island, New York.