View source for Stop & Shop

{{Short description|American regional supermarket chain}}
{{about|the American operation|the British operation|Co-operative Retail Services}}
{{Infobox company
| name = The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, LLC.
| logo = Stop & Shop 2018 logo.svg
| logo_size = 250px
| logo_caption = 
| image = Stop & Shop Headquarters.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| image_alt = A brown 10 story office building, headquarters building of Stop & Shop supermarket/store chain in Quincy Center
| image_caption = Stop & Shop headquarters in [[Quincy, Massachusetts]]
| former_name = {{Unbulleted list|Economy Grocery Stores Company<br/>(1914–1946)}}
| predecessor = Greenie Store (1892–1908)
| trade_name = Stop & Shop
| type = [[Subsidiary]] of [[Ahold Delhaize]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1914|p=y}} in [[Somerville, Massachusetts]], United States
| founder = The [[Rabinovitz/Rabb family]]
| hq_location_city = [[Quincy, Massachusetts]]
| hq_location_country = United States<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stopandshop.com/about/news/press_071607.htm |title=Stop & Shop Presents Cash to Area Schools Through A+ BonusBucks |date=July 16, 2007 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515220758/http://www.stopandshop.com/about/news/press_071607.htm |archive-date=May 15, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://stopandshop.com/pages/birthday-celebration|website=Stop & Shop|date=19 May 2022|title=Stop & Shop hosts 100th Birthday Celebration For Retired Tuskegee Airman|access-date=12 July 2022|archive-date=12 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712145744/https://stopandshop.com/pages/birthday-celebration|url-status=live}}</ref>
| areas_served = {{ublist |[[New England]] |[[Downstate New York]] |[[Northern New Jersey]]}}
| industry = [[Retail]]
| products = {{ublist |Bakery |Grocery |Florist |Deli |Gelatin Shop |Produce |Seafood |Meats |Dairy |Pharmacy |General Merchandise |Gasoline}}
| revenue = {{increase}} [[United States dollar|US$]]15.2 billion 3.25%<ref name="washpost">{{cite news |last=Bardaro |first=Michael |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20645-2004Nov29.html |title=Giant's Merger Hurt Morale, Executive Says |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 29, 2004 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=July 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709204836/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20645-2004Nov29.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| revenue_year = 2015
| num_locations = 365 stores (2025)
| num_employees = 82,000+
| parent = [[Ahold Delhaize]]
| homepage = {{URL|stopandshop.com}}
}}
[[File:Stop and Shop Old Logo.svg|thumb|The former logo, used up to 2008.]]
[[File:Stop & Shop logo.svg|thumb|The logo used from 2008 to 2018 and shared with sibling chain [[Giant Food (Landover)|Giant of Landover]]; still found in some stores and used on private label products]]

The '''Stop & Shop Supermarket Company''', known as '''Stop & Shop''', is an American regional chain of [[supermarket|supermarkets]] located in the northeastern [[United States]]. From its beginnings in 1892 as a small grocery store, it has grown to include a 365-store chain.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stop & Shop |url=https://www.aholddelhaize.com/en/brands/united-states/stop-shop/ |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=AholdDelhaize.com |archive-date=April 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416201949/https://www.aholddelhaize.com/en/brands/united-states/stop-shop/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Stop & Shop has been a wholly owned subsidiary of the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] supermarket operator [[Ahold]] since 1995 and was part of the [[Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover]] division with sister chain [[Giant-Landover]] between 2004 and 2011. Ahold announced on June 24, 2015, that it would merge with [[Brussels]]-based [[Delhaize Group]], a [[Belgium|Belgian]] grocery store conglomerate whose U.S. grocery operations included [[Hannaford Brothers Company|Hannaford]] of [[Scarborough, Maine]] and [[Food Lion]] of [[Salisbury, North Carolina]]. The merger was completed on July 24, 2016, with the new holding company being named [[Ahold Delhaize]], and it is now a sister company to the formerly competing New England supermarket chain [[Hannaford Brothers Company|Hannaford]], along with [[Food Lion]].

==History==
===Beginning===
Stop & Shop's roots can be traced back to 1892, when Solomon and Jeanie Rabinowitz opened a grocery shop, called the Greenie Store, at 134 Salem Street, in the [[North End, Boston|North End]] of [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]. This store operated at this location until 1908.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northendboston.com/north-end-history-volume-4/ |title=North End History: Our Jewish Heritage |first=Guild |last=Nichols |website=northendboston.com |publisher= |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421132657/http://www.northendboston.com/north-end-history-volume-4/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the company's web site, Stop & Shop was founded in 1914 in [[Somerville, Massachusetts]], by the [[Rabinovitz/Rabb family|Rabinowitz family]] as the Economy Grocery Stores Company. Four years later, the store adopted the new self-service supermarket model recently pioneered by [[Piggly Wiggly]]. A second store opened later in 1914, several stores opened a year later and by 1917, the chain had 15 stores. Initially, the stores sold only grocery items, but soon after added meats, produce, milk, dairy, and some frozen foods. Like [[A & P]], they were pioneers of the modern grocery store, selling all types of food items under one roof. Stores were {{convert|10,000|to|15,000|sqft}} and in downtown and inner city areas in the Boston and [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]] metro areas. The chain had grown to 86 supermarkets by 1946, when the name was changed to Stop & Shop, Inc.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stopandshop.com/about/ |title=About Us |website=stopandshop.com |publisher=Stop & Shop, Inc. |date= |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421132653/https://stopandshop.com/about/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Pre-1980s===
In 1959, Stop & Shop had 100 stores by opening in [[Natick, Massachusetts]]. In 1961, Stop & Shop bought the now-defunct [[department store]] chain [[Bradlees]], based in Connecticut. Later, in the 60s, they bought the three-store chain ORBIT'S stores and merged them into Bradlees. Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts were opening in suburban areas and in shopping plazas. In the early 1950s, Stop & Shop entered Connecticut and Rhode Island, in the early 1960s in New York, and in the late 1960s in New Jersey. With Bradlees in the company, Stop & Shop began offering non-food items in their supermarkets. In many areas, Stop & Shop and Bradlees were adjacent, allowing one-stop shopping; several of these combination stores were designated Family Centers. Stop & Shop also operated the Medi-Mart pharmacy chain and the Perkins Tobacco chain.

===1980s===
In 1980, Stop & Shop had supermarkets in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and southern [[New York (state)|New York]]. The stores were then typical in size at about {{convert|30000|sqft|m2}} on average. Many were next door to their then-co-owned Bradlees Department stores. In the New York and Philadelphia metro areas, Stop & Shop was not able to compete successfully. In 1982, Stop & Shop exited New Jersey, selling most of the stores that were profitable to [[A&P]], which would use these stores to replace their aging fleet of stores. A few stores were sold to [[ShopRite (United States)|ShopRite]] owners as well as [[Foodtown (United States)|Foodtown]] owners. Other stores were closed and converted to other uses. In New York State, they sold some of their stores to A&P while selling others to [[Grand Union (supermarket)|Grand Union]] and closing others, converting them also to other uses.

In 1982, Stop & Shop built its first superstore in the [[Pembroke, Massachusetts]], area. Superstores were {{convert|45,000|to|80,000|sqft|m2}}. In addition to traditional supermarket offerings, these stores featured bakeries, pharmacies, moderate selections of general merchandise one would not expect to find at a supermarket, expanded deli departments, cafes, and a salad bar. Some of these stores would feature a bank, expanded liquor and beer, video rentals, etc. Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, the traditional supermarkets were converted into superstores. Some were remodeled, others were torn down, and a new store was rebuilt in the same location, while others were closed and replaced with a superstore within two miles.

In early 1985, Stop & Shop bought the small discount store chain Almy's. The remaining Almy's locations closed in 1987.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/05/Almys-begins-closing-stores/9735547185600/| website= UPI.com| title= Almys begins closing stores| date= May 5, 1987| place= Quincy, Massachusetts| publisher= [[United Press International]]| access-date= May 14, 2021| archive-date= January 28, 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210128162240/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/05/Almys-begins-closing-stores/9735547185600/| url-status= live}}</ref>

In the late 1980s, following a hostile takeover bid by [[Herbert Haft]]'s [[Dart Drug|Dart Group]], The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company was acquired by [[leveraged buyout]] specialists [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts|KKR]] and was taken private. Shortly thereafter, Medi-Mart was sold to Walgreens; Bradlees was spun off as its own corporation. After several years, while KKR explored merger possibilities with Safeway (which it also controlled at the time), Stop & Shop was sold in a public offering.

By 1990, Stop & Shop operated in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and in Boston and Springfield, Massachusetts, with one store in New York state.

===1990s===
[[Image:Super Stop & Shop 1024.jpg|thumb|A typical location, using an older logo. This location is in [[Yonkers, New York]].]]

In 1994, Giant-Landover began expanding by opening stores in [[Pennsylvania]], [[Delaware]], and [[New Jersey]] under the '''Super G''' trade name. This was done to differentiate itself from its future sister company, Giant Food Stores of [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]]. During 2005, the newly formed Stop & Shop/Giant made the decision to phase out the Super G name in New Jersey and Delaware. In New Jersey, four Super G stores were shuttered, and the remaining eight stores were converted to the '''Super Stop & Shop''' banner and became a part of Stop & Shop's New York Sales Division in an attempt to revive sales at the stores. These stores continued to underperform and were subsequently sold in 2007 to ShopRite franchise owners. The Delaware Super G stores were to be remodeled under the Super Stop & Shop format and reopened under the Super Giant banner. Super G stores in Pennsylvania were generally close to Giant-Carlisle locations and were converted to Giant of Carlisle stores but continued to be unionized, unlike most of the other Carlisle-bannered stores.

In 1995 Stop & Shop acquired competitor Purity Supreme supermarkets.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 1, 1995 |title=Stop & Shop To Buy Purity Supreme Chain |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/archive/stop-shop-buy-purity-supreme-chain |editor1-last=Zwiebach |editor1-first=Elliot |department=News |publisher=Supermarket News |publication-date=May 1, 1995 |agency=[[Informa Connect]] |access-date=April 20, 2021 |url-access= |quote=BOSTON -- Stop & Shop Cos. here said last week it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Purity Supreme of North Billerica, Massachusetts, for about $255 million. The combined sales of the two chains would be about $4.7 billion, which would allow Stop & Shop to move from the 14th to the 12th largest volume chain in the United States if it were not required to divest too many overlapping locations by federal regulatory agencies. |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421013557/https://www.supermarketnews.com/archive/stop-shop-buy-purity-supreme-chain |url-status=live }}</ref> Then in 1996 Stop & Shop was bought out by [[Ahold|Ahold USA]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/29/business/dutch-concern-to-acquire-stop-and-shop-chain.html |title=Ahold to buy Stop & Shop |work=The New York Times |date=29 March 1996 |access-date=2021-04-21 |archive-date=2021-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421013547/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/29/business/dutch-concern-to-acquire-stop-and-shop-chain.html |url-status=live |last1=Gilpin |first1=Kenneth N. }}</ref> Ahold had previously bought First National Supermarkets, whose '''Edwards Super Food Stores''' and '''[[Finast]]''' chains also had a strong presence in Connecticut; Ahold planned to operate both Edwards and Stop & Shop there. However, in the wake of the acquisition, [[Connecticut Attorney General]] [[Richard Blumenthal]] raised [[antitrust]] questions, as Stop & Shop and Edwards combined had more than half of the grocery share in Connecticut. Following negotiations with Blumenthal, Ahold decided to convert its New England stores to the Stop & Shop banner, while selling some locations to other chains such as [[Shaw's]], [[ShopRite (United States)|ShopRite]], and [[Grand Union (supermarket)|Grand Union]]. Ahold also began building a few stores under the Edwards Super Food Stores banner in New York and New Jersey. Ahold also acquired 26 independent Mayfair [[Foodtown (United States)|Foodtown]] stores in that area, converting them to Edwards. In 1998 and 1999, several Super Stop & Shop stores were built in the Poughkeepsie area.

[[File:Stop & Shop.JPG|thumb|A newer Stop & Shop in [[Saugus, Massachusetts]].]]

In 1999, Ahold and the New Jersey-based [[Pathmark]] entered merger talks, and a deal was struck under which Ahold would acquire Pathmark and rebrand Edwards and its Carlisle, Pennsylvania-based sibling Giant under its banner. After the government rejected the deal due to their belief that Ahold would hold too large a stake in the grocery store market in the New York and Pennsylvania areas, Ahold eventually pulled out because they were not willing to make a series of divestments necessary for approval.

=== 2000s ===
In 2000, Ahold decided again to try to rebrand the Edwards stores and eventually decided to bring the Stop & Shop chain back to the New York area. By the end of 2000 the rebranding was complete and the Edwards name was discontinued.

In 2001, Ahold made moves to expand the Stop & Shop brand further into New Jersey and New York; these came as [[Grand Union (supermarket)|Grand Union]], one of its competitors, was going through a bankruptcy liquidation. Through a series of moves, [[C&S Wholesale Grocers]] acquired the Grand Union chain of stores and downsized it significantly, selling many of its New Jersey and New York area stores to Ahold. Ahold in turn started supplying these stores with merchandise but
did not immediately rebrand their acquisitions to Stop & Shop; that would happen in the spring and summer of 2001.

In 2003, Ahold acquired many of the A&P Foodmart locations in the [[Hartford, Connecticut]] area, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and the one remaining New Hampshire store. Other A&P locations in that region closed or were sold to other supermarket chains. In 2004, Ahold integrated Stop & Shop Supermarkets with [[Giant Food (Landover)|Giant Food]] and created one combined company with the name of [[Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover]].

In 2006, Stop & Shop signed a contract with [[Starbucks]], placing the coffee shop chain's licensed stores inside certain supermarkets. Many Stop & Shop stores feature [[Dunkin' Donuts]] outlets inside the store. Also in May 2006, Stop & Shop began piloting the Shopping Buddy program in select stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The Shopping Buddy is a [[Personal shopping assistants|personal shopping assistant]] that allows customers to track their purchases and to do in-cart bagging as they move through the store.

In October 2007, Stop & Shop launched an advertising campaign that was intended to have users submit stories and videos to a website detailing their grocery store experiences. The campaign was significant in that it is an early example of a regional traditional brand employing [[Web 2.0]] concepts such as [[user-generated content]] to promote their stores.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/expand-brand-community-online/122867 |title=Expand your brand community online |first=Patrick |last=Hanlon |publisher=Advertising Age |date=January 7, 2008 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421132701/https://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/expand-brand-community-online/122867 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2007, Stop & Shop made an attempt to expand further into northern New England. They built, but did not operate, a single [[Vermont]] store in Rutland before selling it to rival supermarket operator [[Delhaize]]. Delhaize opened the store under its [[Hannaford Bros. Co.|Hannaford]] banner in February 2008.

In July 2007, Stop & Shop opened a single [[Maine]] store in Kennebunk. The store was closed in October 2009, citing slow sales as the primary reason. At the same time, they abandoned plans to build a second Maine store in Portland.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://updates.pressherald.mainetoday.com/updates/stop-shop-backing-out-of-maine |title=Stop & Shop backing out of Maine |newspaper=Portland Press Herald |date=October 6, 2009 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227172806/http://updates.mainetoday.com/updates/stop-shop-backing-out-of-maine |archive-date=February 27, 2012}}</ref> [[Delhaize]] purchased the vacant Kennebunk location in December 2009 and later reopened the property under the [[Hannaford Bros. Co.|Hannaford]] banner.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=304434 |title=Hannaford to open on Route 1 in Kennebunk |newspaper=Portland Press Herald |date=February 26, 2010 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116071009/http://www.pressherald.com/archive/hannaford-to-open-on-route-1-in-kennebunk_2009-12-22.html |archive-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hannaford.com/custserv/store_detail.jsp?viewStoreId=20895 |title=Store locator |publisher=Hannaford |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629042825/http://www.hannaford.com/custserv/store_detail.jsp?viewStoreId=20895 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On August 22, 2008, Stop & Shop changed its logo as a re-branding project along with its sister company, [[Giant Food LLC|Giant-Landover]]. In August 2009, Stop & Shop announced closures and re-brandings for a large portion of the licensed Starbucks stores opened in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.patriotledger.com/x1080448841/Stop-Shop-and-sister-chain-closing-43-in-store-Starbucks-kiosks |title=Stop & Shop and sister chain closing 43 in-store Starbucks kiosks |first=Jon |last=Chesto |publisher=[[The Patriot Ledger]] |date=August 28, 2009 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421132654/https://www.patriotledger.com/x1080448841/Stop-Shop-and-sister-chain-closing-43-in-store-Starbucks-kiosks |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2010s===
[[File:Stop & Shop footprint 2010-08.png|200px|thumb|left|Map of Stop & Shop stores in August 2010. There have been some openings and closings since then, including the closing of all stores in New Hampshire.]]
By late 2013, Stop & Shop had a very strong base in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, with more stores in New York and New Jersey. All six of the remaining New Hampshire stores had closed in August 2013, marking the chain's departure from northern New England.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/08/06/stop-shop-closing-its-stores-in-new-hampshire/ |title=Stop & Shop Closing Its Stores In New Hampshire |publisher=CBS |agency=Associated Press |date=August 6, 2013 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421132653/https://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/08/06/stop-shop-closing-its-stores-in-new-hampshire/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A few Connecticut stores, in Bridgeport, Hamden, and Orange, also closed during the two subsequent years.

In April 2015, Stop & Shop started construction of an [[anaerobic digester]] at its distribution center in [[Freetown, Massachusetts]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stopandshop.com/news-and-media/ss-article-04-17-15 |title=Stop & Shop Celebrates Earth Day As The Company Breaks Ground On Its First Anaerobic Digester At The Freetown Distribution Center |date=April 17, 2015 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |url-status=dead| website= stopandshop.com| publisher= Stop & Shop, Inc. |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150921075848/http://stopandshop.com/news-and-media/ss-article-04-17-15/ |archive-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref> which now supplies 40% of the site's electricity needs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2017/04/21/anaerobic-digester-food-waste-energy |title=From Waste To Watts: How This Grocery Chain Turns Old Food Into New Energy |date=April 21, 2017 |first=Patrick |last=Skahill |publisher=WBUR.org |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421132655/https://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2017/04/21/anaerobic-digester-food-waste-energy |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2015, Stop & Shop announced the intentions to purchase 25 stores from A&P (which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier that month), including A&P's most profitable location in [[Mt. Kisco, New York]], and convert all of the purchased stores to the Stop & Shop banner by the end of November 2015. On September 22, 2015, the sale of 25 A&P stores to Stop & Shop and 70 A&P stores to competitor [[Acme Markets]] was approved by a judge in federal bankruptcy court.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ahold's Stop & Shop division to acquire 25 A&P stores in Greater New York |website=aholddelhaize.com |url=https://www.aholddelhaize.com/en/media/latest/media-releases/aholds-stop-shop-division-to-acquire-25-ap-stores-in-greater-new-york/ |date=July 20, 2015 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421132653/https://www.aholddelhaize.com/en/media/latest/media-releases/aholds-stop-shop-division-to-acquire-25-ap-stores-in-greater-new-york/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Most of the stores purchased by Stop & Shop and Acme had been operating under the Pathmark or [[Waldbaum's]] banners (A&P had acquired Waldbaum's in 1986 and had bought Pathmark in 2007). As of March 2018, Stop & Shop operated 411 stores throughout the three southern New England states, as well as in downstate [[New York (state)|New York]] and northern [[New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsday.com/business/stop-shop-grocery-hempstead-1.17515310 |title=Stop & Shop to shutter location in Hempstead village |work=Newsday |date=March 20, 2018 |first=Tory N. |last=Parrish |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718205532/https://www.newsday.com/business/stop-shop-grocery-hempstead-1.17515310 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2018, Stop & Shop began renovations at many of their Hartford, Connecticut regional stores and began adding new features to these stores, including cafes, in-store meat smokers, smoothie bars and taqueria stations. A new version of the old logo was also implemented at these stores, which would serve as a test market for the entire chain.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/20181005/NEWS01/181009933/stop--shop-wraps-70m-renovation-project |title= Stop & Shop wraps $70M renovation project |date= October 5, 2018 |first= Matt |last= Pilon |work= Hartford Business |access-date= April 21, 2019 |archive-date= October 7, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223323/http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/20181005/NEWS01/181009933/stop--shop-wraps-70m-renovation-project |url-status= live }}</ref>

On January 4, 2019, it was announced that Stop & Shop would be acquiring the [[King Kullen]] supermarket chain on Long Island. Stop & Shop would acquire the chain's 32 King Kullen and 5 Wild By Nature stores.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/01/04/1680729/0/en/Stop-Shop-to-Acquire-King-Kullen-Grocery-Co.html |title=Stop & Shop to acquire King Kullen Grocery Co. |date=January 4, 2019 |work=GlobeNewsWire.com |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=March 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302054957/https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/01/04/1680729/0/en/Stop-Shop-to-Acquire-King-Kullen-Grocery-Co.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2020s===
On April 17, 2020, it was announced that the King Kullen deal was set to close on April 30, 2020.<ref>{{cite news| title= Stop & Shop Acquisition Of King Kullen Set To Close April 30| url= https://www.foodtradenews.com/2020/04/17/with-deal-completion-apparently-close-at-hand-stop-shop-looks-to-increase-dominant-long-island-market-share/| work= Food Trade News| date= April 17, 2020| access-date= May 14, 2021| archive-date= December 11, 2020| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201211231105/https://www.foodtradenews.com/2020/04/17/with-deal-completion-apparently-close-at-hand-stop-shop-looks-to-increase-dominant-long-island-market-share/| url-status= live}}</ref> On June 10, 2020, it was announced that the acquisition deal had been terminated and that King Kullen would remain independent due to "unforeseen changes in the marketplace".<ref>{{Cite web|date= 2020-06-10|title= Stop & Shop, King Kullen kill acquisition deal|url= https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/stop-shop-king-kullen-kill-acquisition-deal|work= Supermarket News|first= Russell|last= Redmon|language= en|access-date= 2021-05-14|archive-date= 2021-06-03|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210603210914/https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/stop-shop-king-kullen-kill-acquisition-deal|url-status= live}}</ref>

On July 12, 2024, Stop & Shop announced the closure of 32 underperforming locations as part of a plan to improve the company's finances. The company faced serious competition from other nearby grocers and high rising costs, which caused the decision to close some of its stores. The 32 closing stores will close on or before November 2, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/12/business/stop-and-shop-store-closures/index.html|title= Stop & Shop is closing 32 'underperforming' locations. Here's where|last=Valinsky|first=Jordan|date=July 12, 2024|access-date=July 12, 2024|website=CNN|language=en}}</ref>

== 2024 Store Closures <ref name="Ahold2024">{{cite web |date=July 12, 2024 |title=Ahold Delhaize - Stop & Shop closing 32 underperforming stores |url=https://supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/stop-shop-closing-32-underperforming-stores |access-date=November 8, 2025 |website=Supermarket News |publisher=Ahold Delhaize}}</ref> ==

==== Connecticut ====

* 100 Division St., Ansonia
* 211 High St., Torrington (''931 Torringford St., Torrington'' ''remained open'')
* 1937 West Main St., Stamford (''2200 Bedford St., Stamford'' ''remained open)''
* 855 Bridgeport Ave., Milford (''1360 East Town Road, Milford'' ''remained open)''
* 72 Newtown Road, Danbury (''44 Lake Avenue Ext., Danbury'' ''remained open'')

==== Massachusetts ====

* 932 North Montello St., Brockton
* 36 New State Highway, Raynham
* 341 Plymouth St., Halifax
* 539-571 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury
* 165 Needham St., Newton (bfresh Market)
* 415 Cooley St., Springfield (''1600 Boston Rd. and 1277 Liberty St., Springfield'' ''remained open)''
* 545 Lincoln St. Worcester (''940 West Boylston St. and 949 Grafton St., Worcester'' ''remained open'')
* 24 Mattakeesett St., Pembroke (''125 Church St., Pembroke'' ''remained open'')

==== New Jersey ====

* 1083 Inman Ave., Edison
* 1049 US Highway 1 South, Edison
* 4861 US Highway 9, Howell
* 1278 US Highway 22, Phillipsburg
* 581 Stelton Rd., Piscataway
* 625 Paterson Ave., Carlstadt
* 1221 State Route 27, Franklin Township
* 130 Skyline Dr., Ringwood
* 505 Richmond Ave, Point Pleasant Beach
* 2275 West County Line Rd., Jackson

==== New York ====

* 2965 Cropsey Ave., Brooklyn
* 130 Wheatley Plaza, Greenvale
* 7 Samsondale Plaza, West Haverstraw
* 294 Middle Country Road, Coram
* 240 East Sanford Blvd., Mt. Vernon
* 132 Fulton Ave., Hempstead
* 2525 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow

==== Rhode Island ====

* 11 Commerce Way, Johnston
* 176 Pittman St., Providence (Eastside Marketplace)

==Criticism==
{{one source|section|date= May 2021}}
{{criticism section|date=December 2024}}
In 1999, one of Stop & Shop’s shell companies sold a property in [[Quincy, Massachusetts]] with deed restrictions explicitly naming Stop & Shop as the beneficiary. They state that the property cannot be used to sell fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, dairy products, frozen foods, fish, poultry, and meat. The restrictions remain in effect for a total of 99 years. The property, which was purchased by Daniel J. Quirk and developed as a car dealership, sits directly across the highway from a Super Stop & Shop.<ref name="CapeCod">{{cite news |url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20150906/NEWS/150909695 |title=Stop & Shop's land grab on Cape Cod |first=Madeleine |last=List |date=September 6, 2015 |work=[[Cape Cod Times]] |via=capecodtimes.com |publisher= |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414044729/https://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20150906/NEWS/150909695 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2003, [[Connecticut Attorney General]] [[Richard Blumenthal]] (later a US Senator), opened an investigation into Stop & Shop for its land-acquisition practices and allegations of anti-competitive behavior in the early 1990s, said Jaclyn Falkowskie, spokeswoman for the Connecticut Attorney General. Investigators, however, found that Stop & Shop’s actions did not violate the state’s [[antitrust laws]], and the investigation was closed, she said. Regardless of the strategy's legality, consumer advocates find fault because it limits the potential number of supermarkets in an area, reducing competition and selection for consumers.<ref name= "CapeCod" />

Another shell company with ties to Stop & Shop placed similar deed restrictions on a property in [[Harwich, Massachusetts]] before selling it to Eastward Homes Business Trust in 2006. The wording is materially similar, going so far as to list specific brands of pet food under restriction. The restrictions can remain in place for up to 90 years.<ref name="CapeCod" />

==Contract negotiations and complications==
===2007===
On February 17, 2007, the [[collective bargaining]] agreements between Stop & Shop management and its employees expired after three years. In an attempt to maintain their current [[health care]] benefits, union workers threatened to strike. Stop & Shop wanted employees to share the cost of health care, but union workers believed Stop & Shop should pay it in full.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=6117858&nav=3YeX |title=Still no contract for Stop & Shop workers |work= [[WTNH]].com |date=February 21, 2007 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090956/http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=6117858&nav=3YeX |archive-date=September 29, 2007}}</ref> Workers were paying [[co-payment]]s for office visits and medical procedures, as well as deductibles for health care costs and hospital costs. The grocery chain wanted to implement weekly contributions of between $5 and $21 on top of the co-payments. These fees would increase throughout the three-year contract.

At midnight on February 23, 2007, Stop & Shop grocery workers in Connecticut, [[Rhode Island]], and Massachusetts had voted overwhelmingly to reject a contract proposal and to authorize a [[Strike action|strike]] against the grocery chain. The contracts for [[United Food and Commercial Workers]] Locals 328, 371, 919, 1445, and 1459 expired on February 17, 2007, and were extended to cover until February 22, 2007, but the union and the grocery chain agreed to extend the deadline two more days, to midnight February 24, 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pslweb.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr001=e93358bbn1.app13a&page=NewsArticle&id=6451&news_iv_ctrl=1261 |title=Grocery workers fight Stop & Shop for contract |work=pslweb.org |date= February 23, 2007 |first=Nick |last=Flynn |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722094946/http://www.pslweb.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr001=e93358bbn1.app13a&page=NewsArticle&id=6451&news_iv_ctrl=1261 |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |access-date=April 21, 2019}}</ref> Officials with Stop & Shop and the United Food and Commercial Workers continued negotiating through March 2, 2007, extending the contract until 12:01&nbsp;a.m. March 3, 2007, given that talks were scheduled to continue through Friday. Both sides extended the negotiations, which resumed February 26, 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://westportnow.com/index.php?%2Fv3%2Fcomments%2Fstop_shop_talks_resume_today%2F |title=Stop & Shop Talks Resume Today |work=WestportNow.com |date=February 23, 2007 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807132331/https://westportnow.com/index.php?%2Fv3%2Fcomments%2Fstop_shop_talks_resume_today%2F |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 3, 2007, the five unions involved gave the company a comprehensive contract proposal that covered every aspect of their five agreements and identified what they believed to be a fair and equitable contract for everyone. On March 7, 2007, the five locals representing workers in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts scheduled voting on a new contract, extending the strike deadline to March 12, 2007. The locals delivered a comprehensive contract to Stop & Shop negotiators. Approximately 43,000 unionized Stop & Shop workers in three states could have either had a new contract that Sunday or begun walking [[picket line]]s, possibly that Monday, according to union officials.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.connpost.com/ci_5382812 |title=Stop & Shop faces Sunday vote |first=Rob |last=Varnon |work= [[Connecticut Post]] |access-date=April 21, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070310184751/http://www.connpost.com/ci_5382812 |archive-date=March 10, 2007}}</ref>

The stop-and-go negotiations concluded with a three-year contract overwhelmingly ratified by union members across New England, and a strike was averted. In addition to raises and retroactive payments, Stop & Shop made changes regarding health insurance. Full-time workers would be required to contribute each week to their healthcare plans, while part-time workers would continue to make no contributions toward health care premiums, retaining the existing practice, which covered union workers' health insurance entirely except for co-payments and deductibles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ufcw.org/2007/03/12/stop-shop-workers-stand-strong-to-secure-health-care-for-all-2/ |title=Stop & Shop Workers Stand Strong To Secure Health Care For All |website=UFCW.org |publisher=[[United Food and Commercial Workers]] |date=March 12, 2007 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421132656/http://www.ufcw.org/2007/03/12/stop-shop-workers-stand-strong-to-secure-health-care-for-all-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2019===
{{main|2019 Stop & Shop strike}}

[[File:Stop and Shop strike 02.jpg|thumb|Workers during the [[2019 Stop & Shop strike]].]]
The 2016 collective bargaining agreement between Stop & Shop and its union staff expired at midnight on February 23, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/After-contract-expiration-Stop-and-Shop-workers-13641216.php |title=After contract expiration, Stop & Shop workers mull strike |publisher=[[Hearst Media]] |first=Amanda |last=CCuda |date=February 25, 2019 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |newspaper=[[Connecticut Post]] |archive-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417142255/https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/After-contract-expiration-Stop-and-Shop-workers-13641216.php |url-status=live }}</ref> In an effort to reach a memorandum of understanding before the contract's expiration date, the five local chapters of the [[United Food and Commercial Workers|United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW)]] that represents 30,000 of Stop & Shop's employees in locations across [[New England]], in the states of [[Massachusetts]], [[Rhode Island]], and [[Connecticut]]<ref name=MiamiHerald>{{cite web |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article229518594.html |title=Stop & Shop, workers reach tentative contract agreement |last=Associated Press |date=April 21, 2019 |website=Miami Herald |language=en |access-date=2019-04-22|archive-date=2019-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422191739/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article229518594.html}}</ref> began negotiating a new contract on January 14, 2019.<ref name="2019Update">{{cite web |url=http://ufcw919.org/negotiations-update/ |title=Negotiations Update |publisher=UFCW 919 |year=2019 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=March 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307161053/http://ufcw919.org/negotiations-update/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Negotiations throughout the remainder of January were promising, with the local chapters working out "wording" technicalities with the company.{{r|2019Update}} However, progress was effectively halted in early to mid-February after Stop & Shop presented their monetary and payroll requirements for the upcoming agreement's term.{{r|2019Update}} The proposal effectively strips all of the company's union employees of premium pay on national holidays and Sundays (bringing the store in line with current state law, which eliminated Sunday overtime pay), while also eliminating any raises, reducing contributions to pensions, and increasing healthcare costs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wnpr.org/post/stop-shop-union-representatives-negotiating-avoid-strike |title=Stop & Shop, Union Representatives Negotiating To Avoid Strike |publisher=[[National Public Radio]] |date=March 5, 2019 |first=Frankie |last=Graziano |access-date=April 21, 2019 |work=WNPR |archive-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417142320/https://www.wnpr.org/post/stop-shop-union-representatives-negotiating-avoid-strike |url-status=live }}</ref> Negotiations continued in good faith between the two sides, but with no progress made, UFCW Local 1445 of Massachusetts became the first chapter to authorize a [[Strike action|strike]] if needed on February 24, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/02/24/stop-and-shop-workers-authorize-strike/ |title=Stop & Shop Workers' Union Votes To Authorize Strike |publisher=[[CBS]] |date=February 24, 2019 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |work=[[WBZ-TV]] |archive-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417142254/https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/02/24/stop-and-shop-workers-authorize-strike/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the following weeks, the members of the four other UFCW unions also authorized a potential strike as a response to further progress stagnation.<ref name="courant">{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-stop-and-shop-strike-20190311-rignbtv2fjbilofiucs5usicne-story.html |title=Second Stop & Shop union in Connecticut authorizes strike as talks over new contract continue |publisher=[[Hartford Courant]] |date=March 11, 2019 |first=Russell |last=Blair |access-date=April 21, 2019 |work=[[WBZ-TV]] |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404172532/https://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-stop-and-shop-strike-20190311-rignbtv2fjbilofiucs5usicne-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The strike did not occur, and negotiations continued sporadically through the first week of April.{{r|courant}} On April 3, 2019, [[Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (United States)|federal mediators]] were brought in after the unions rejected Stop & Shop's "last offer" contract.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20190401/stop-amp-shop-union-rejects-final-offer |title=Stop & Shop union rejects 'final' offer |publisher=[[GateHouse Media]] |date=April 1, 2019 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |work=[[The Providence Journal]] |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404172108/https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20190401/stop-amp-shop-union-rejects-final-offer |url-status=live }}</ref> An unfruitful round of negotiations overseen by the federal negotiators broke down on April 10, 2019, and a strike was called the next day. Union Stop & Shop employees walked off the job at 1:00&nbsp;p.m. on April 11, 2019, to strike against the contract posited by Stop & Shop.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://time.com/5569346/stop-shop-strike/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412115710/http://time.com/5569346/stop-shop-strike/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |title=Tens of Thousands of Stop & Shop Grocery Store Workers Strike Over Wages, Health Care |date=April 12, 2019 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> Candidates for the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries#Candidates|2020 Democratic presidential nomination]], including [[Bernie Sanders]], the [[United States Senate|junior senator]] from [[Vermont]], and former Vice President [[Joe Biden]] have stated support for Stop & Shop's employees strike for a fair contract.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=BernieSanders |number=1116417831397199873 |date=April 12, 2019 |title=@Stopandshop, a multibillion-dollar company, wants to drastically cut health care for 31,000 workers. I stand with @UFCW workers in their fight to protect health care and workers' rights.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/438716-biden-warren-express-support-for-striking-stop-and-shop-workers |title=Biden, Warren and Sanders express support for striking Stop & Shop workers |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |first=Tal |last=Axelrod |date=April 12, 2019 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414035636/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/438716-biden-warren-express-support-for-striking-stop-and-shop-workers |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Elizabeth Warren]], the senior senator from [[Massachusetts]] who was also a candidate for the nomination, joined workers at the [[Somerville, Massachusetts]] location to rally for a fair new contract and to pass out food for the striking workers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/04/12/senator-warren-join-striking-stop-shop-workers/ThL3VjgB7Msx7bghEYdh0N/story.html |title=Senator Warren Joins Striking Stop & Shop Workers |first1=Katie |last1=Johnston |first2=John R. |last2=Ellement |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=April 12, 2019 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=April 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413125326/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/04/12/senator-warren-join-striking-stop-shop-workers/ThL3VjgB7Msx7bghEYdh0N/story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The strike ended eleven days later on April 21.<ref name=MiamiHerald/> In August 2019, Ahold Delhaize reported the strike resulted in a $345 million loss in sales.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kalunian |first=Kim |url=https://www.wpri.com/business-news/stop-shop-lost-345-million-in-sales-due-to-strike/ |title=Stop & Shop lost $345 million in sales due to strike |work=[[WPRI-TV]] |date=2019-08-07 |access-date=2019-08-08 |archive-date=2019-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807193605/https://www.wpri.com/business-news/stop-shop-lost-345-million-in-sales-due-to-strike/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Price disparities ==
In 2023, high schoolers with the Hyde Square Task Force studied alleged price disparities between a Stop & Shop location in Boston's [[Jamaica Plain]] neighborhood, a lower-income community, and Boston's [[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]] neighborhood, a community where the household income is four times more than that of Jamaica Plain. The teens say that the Jamaica Plain location charges the rough equivalent of over $2,800 more than the Dedham location, despite being just 8 miles apart. The students reached out to Stop & Shop, which put out a statement saying that those numbers are [[proprietary]] and that many factors play into price decisions. Since the report, the team has attracted the attention of Massachusetts lawmakers and the [[Massachusetts Attorney General]] [[Andrea Campbell]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chaiyabhat |first=Shaun |date=Jun 7, 2023 |title=Teenagers discover pricing disparity in Boston area Stop & Shop grocery stores |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/stop-and-stop-price-disparity-boston-dedham/44121902 |access-date=Feb 20, 2024 |work=WCVB}}</ref>

== See also ==
* {{portal-inline|Supermarkets}}
* {{portal-inline|Companies}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
* [https://stopandshop.com/ Stop & Shop official website]
* [https://stores.stopandshop.com/ List of all Stop & Shop locations]

{{Ahold Delhaize}}
{{Supermarkets of the United States}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stop and Shop}}
[[Category:1892 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1995 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Ahold Delhaize]]
[[Category:Companies based in Norfolk County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Quincy, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1892]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1892]]
[[Category:Supermarkets of the United States]]
[[Category:American subsidiaries of foreign companies]]