In New Jersey, the Courier-Post reports that ShopRite Supermarkets of Cherry Hill has decided not to sell tobacco in any of its six stores, with owner Jason Ravitz telling the paper, “It's not a good business to be in (in) New Jersey, which imposes the highest state excise tax on cigarettes in the nation. There is almost no profit in it anymore.”
The company had already stopped selling tobacco in three former Stop & Shop stores that it had acquired, and now is extending the policy to the rest of the company.
The move reflects a small trend, with companies such as Wegmans, Andronico’s, Fresh & Easy, Dorothy Lane Markets and DeCicco Markets all deciding to get out of the tobacco business – some for the reasons expressed by Ravitz, and some pointing to what they felt was the incongruity of marketing health and wellness while also selling tobacco.
The company had already stopped selling tobacco in three former Stop & Shop stores that it had acquired, and now is extending the policy to the rest of the company.
The move reflects a small trend, with companies such as Wegmans, Andronico’s, Fresh & Easy, Dorothy Lane Markets and DeCicco Markets all deciding to get out of the tobacco business – some for the reasons expressed by Ravitz, and some pointing to what they felt was the incongruity of marketing health and wellness while also selling tobacco.
- KC's View:
- I agree that selling tobacco products can diminish the brand equity for a company working to build its reputation on health and wellness.
