OFF THE SHELVES
Stop & Shop location confirms closure by quietly telling customers it’s shutting – but execs won’t list exact spots
Plus, Stop & Shop's plan moving forward
STOP & Shop has struggled to stay afloat amid a wave of financial troubles, and the chain plans to shutter many of its stores.
The exact locations set to close are unknown, leading one store to make the announcement quietly to its customers.
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Stop & Shop is shuttering an unknown number of its 400 stores.
The closures will take place across the five states Stop & Shop operates in: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.
The grocer plans to close several underperforming locations but has left shoppers in the dark about how many stores will face the chopping block and which locations.
However, a Stop & Shop in Ocean County, New Jersey - 25 miles from Atlantic City - shared the news of its impending closure with its shoppers, per a local outlet.
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The store in Jackson Township is set to close in early fall after its lease expires.
Located in Bennetts Mills Plaza, the Stop & Shop will be shutting its doors because it was evaluated as underperforming by the company.
Customers in the area can still buy groceries at Stop & Shops in Howell, Toms River, Freehold Township, and Brick.
Workers at the Jackson Stop & Shop are also welcome to transfer to other locations once it closes.
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STOP & SHOP STRATEGY
“The value proposition and pricing at Stop & Shop are simply not strong enough,” said JJ Fleeman, the CEO of Ahold Delhaize, Stop & Shop's parent company.
Since the start of a revitalization campaign around six years ago, Stop & Shop has remodeled nearly half its locations.
Retail chain with 400 locations to close store with 70% off sales – customers insist ‘top notch items’ were its downfall
The renovated locations have seen drastic performance increases, outperforming stores not yet remodeled.
Fleeman also noted Stop & Shop has a strong eCommerce presence, but these strengths don't erase the need for growth.
The CEO said Stop & Shop is “not where we want to be or need to be” and needs to change direction.
To do so, the company plans to shutter underperforming stores while focusing on those in markets "where the brand has strong density, holds a strong market position, or has stores that are performing well."
Ahold Delhaize's restructuring strategy is centered around three main initiatives: lowering Stop & Shop's costs, improving its stores, and making prices cheaper for customers.
Where is Stop & Shop?
Stop & Shop is an American supermarket chain founded in Somerville, Massachusetts in 1914.
There are currently around 400 locations across five US states.
- Connecticut: 88
- Massachusetts: 125
- New Jersey: 57
- New York: 100
- Rhode Island: 27
Part of the strategy also involves creating a more efficient organization while maintaining well-stocked shelves and improving how products are delivered to stores.
While improving its operations, the company also intends to uphold its customer service standards.
The U.S. Sun has previously reported on other store closures.
Read More on The US Sun
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