Last updated on June 22nd, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Price Chopper CEO Jerry Golub says the decision not to sell cigarettes in Market 32 stores is based on fulfilling a brand vision for the new format stores.
While Price Chopper will not sell cigarettes at its new Market 32 supermarkets, cigarettes will continue to be sold at regular Price Chopper stores; however, they will be phased out over the next eight to 10 years as the chain converts all of its 135 stores to the Market 32 format.
“Market 32 was built to support a specific brand vision. Given the elevated importance that health and wellness plays in that vision, we made a decision that selling tobacco is just not consistent with this brand. Some decisions—like this one—are easy to make when you have a very clear vision of what you want your brand to stand for,” said Golub.
He adds that health and wellness is one of the most important pillars and elements of the new Market 32 stores. Other elements of the new stores, including the design, look and feel, support the vision of health and wellness.
“Tobacco products do not fit with this new store,” he said.
To date, three Price Chopper stores have been remodeled to the Market 32 format, including stores in Wilton and Clifton Park, New York, and Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The first ground-up opening of a Market 32 will be in Sutton, Massachusetts, in September.
