Stop & Shop to Close 32 Underperforming Stores in Re-branding Effort

Stop & Shop, a prominent grocery chain owned by Ahold Delhaize, has announced the closure of 32 underperforming stores across the Northeast region by the end of the year.

The closure includes 10 stores in New Jersey, eight in Massachusetts, seven in New York, five in Connecticut, and two in Rhode Island. Stop & Shop emphasized that affected employees will be given opportunities for other roles within the company.

Stop & Shop President, Gordon Reid, explained that the decision to close these stores is part of a strategic move to establish a stronger foundation for the brand’s future growth in the market.

Industry expert Burt Flickinger highlighted some internal challenges faced by Stop & Shop, such as the discontinuation of fresh meat and seafood counters in select stores, impacting customer spending. In addition, stiff competition from major retailers like Walmart, Costco, and discount chains like Aldi and Lidl has added pressure on the brand’s market position.

With a history dating back to 1914 in Somerville, Massachusetts, Stop & Shop operates about 400 stores and employs approximately 60,000 individuals.

The closure list includes locations such as the store on Cropsey Ave. in Brooklyn, Wheatley Plaza in Greenvale, and Samsondale Plaza in West Haverstraw, among others.