A major US retailer has announced that it will stop selling tobacco products, including cigarettes and vapes, in its stores from the end of this month.
Stop & Shop, with more than 360 stores located in northeastern states such as New York and New Jersey, will join other majors in removing the products as part of its “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.
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“Stop & Shop aims to support the health and well-being of the neighborhoods we serve.”
“This exit from tobacco is one more way we’re accomplishing that goal,” he added.
The news has been welcomed by public health advocates, including the American Cancer Society.
“This is a step in the right direction toward ending Big Tobacco’s influence on kids, and we know even more can be done to reduce the toll of tobacco in our communities,” said Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Stop & Shop becomes the latest retailer to stop selling tobacco products in its stores.
Target has not sold cigarettes since 1996, with CVS following suit in 2014 and in 2022 Walmart announced it would stop selling tobacco products in some of its stores.
However, some major retailers continue to sell cigarettes in their stores, including Publix.
