Stop & Shop announced it will cease selling cigarettes and all tobacco products at its 360 Northeast stores effective Saturday, August 31, 2024, joining other major retailers like CVS, Walmart, and Target in this move. This decision is part of the company’s commitment to community wellness and public health, as underscored by President Gordon Reid. To assist customers in quitting smoking, Stop & Shop is holding cigarette buyback events in Boston and Staten Island, offering gift cards and discounts on Nicorette in exchange for unopened tobacco products. Public health advocates, including the American Cancer Society, have praised this initiative as a significant step towards reducing tobacco use and its associated health risks. The changes reflect broader industry trends and growing regulatory pressures that make selling tobacco increasingly unprofitable and complex.