Another grocery chain stops tobacco sales: Stop & Shop ditches cigarettes at 360 locations

Customers will no longer be able to stock up on cigarettes and tobacco products at Stop & Shop as the retail chain announced plans to nix the products from its shelves.

The Massachusetts-based grocery store chain made the announcement Monday, noting that tobacco products will no longer be sold in any of its 360 stores. The chain has stores in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey and plans to stop selling the products in all stores by Saturday. 

Stop & Shop isn’t the first store to stop selling cigarettes and tobacco products. Target stopped selling the products in 1996, according to the Associated Press, followed by Wegmans in 2008 and CVS in 2014. Walmart announced in 2022 that it would stop selling cigarettes in some stores as well.

Stop & Shop said in a news release that the decision is part of Stop & Shop’s “commitment to community wellness.”

“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,” said Gordon Reid, Stop & Shop President, in the announcement.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths a year in the United States.

Smoking also causes about 90% of all lung cancer deaths and more women die from lung cancer each year than from breast cancer, the CDC said.

Smoking can lead to cancer in multiple parts of the body, including the bladder, blood, cervix, colon, rectum, esophagus, kidney, stomach and more.

Grocery retailer offers trade-in deal for those trying to quit smoking

In addition to pulling tobacco products from the store’s shelves, Stop & Shop also hosted two cigarette buyback events Wednesday in the Boston area and on Staten Island.

According to the company, both locations are located in areas with higher rates of smoking and health-related issues.

The first 100 customers to stop by with an unopened pack or carton of cigarettes got a Stop & Shop gift card, as well as SkinnyPop popcorn and other snacks, mints, materials to help them quit smoking and $10 off coupons for nicotine-replacement therapy products.

A spokesperson for the company said there was a good turnout and several customers turned in cigarettes for loved ones, hoping to help their loved ones quit smoking.

Stop & Shop worked with the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to put on the events. 

“From state and local governments to schools and businesses, we can all play a part in protecting public health,” said Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in the announcement. “We urge state lawmakers to prioritize tobacco control program funding so that those inspired to quit by this effort have the resources they need to help them succeed.”

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her atsdmartin@usatoday.com.