Stop & Shop to Close Underperforming Stores
Ahold Delhaize’s U.S. banner Stop & Shop revealed Friday the 32 underperforming stores that it will close by the end of the year. The retailer notes that the decision will position the company for growth.
The impacted locations, which are anticipated to close on or before November 2, include five in Connecticut, eight in Massachusetts, 10 in New Jersey, seven in New York, and two in Rhode Island.
“Stop & Shop is proud of the deep roots and community ties we have developed as a neighborhood grocer of more than 100 years, and we remain committed to nourishing our associates, customers and communities,” said Gordon Reid, president of Stop & Shop, in a statement. “As we announced in May, Stop & Shop has evaluated its overall store portfolio and made the difficult decision to close underperforming stores to create a healthy base for the future growth of our brand.”
To continue to drive growth within its markets, the grocer also said that it will make investments in the customer experience at the locations that remain open through services including online shopping and home delivery.
“Stop & Shop is focused on growing through large, multi-year price investments and a stronger customer value proposition, both in-store and online. This means we’ll be focused on delivering lower everyday prices, as well as even more savings for our customers through strong promotions,” said Reid. “Since 2018, we have completed more than 190 store remodels, with the customer shopping experience in mind. These stores are outperforming other Stop & Shop stores that haven’t been remodeled. We’re taking these learnings and implementing them at other stores as we build upon our strong foundation, similar to our new Boston flagship location, opened last month in the Allston Yards development.”
After the store closures are complete, Stop & Shop will operate more than 350 stores across its five-state footprint, including 81 stores in Connecticut, 115 in Massachusetts, 47 in New Jersey, 91 in New York and 25 in Rhode Island.