| This 3-store grocery store chain with 500 employees is located in western New York. It is a family-owned business, in operation for over 80 years. The current owner has been involved in the store for over 50 years. One of the stores visited by the first author was situated in a strip mall in a city of nearly 32,000 residents. A dry cleaner, independent pharmacy, and hair salon were located in the same strip mall, and three tobacco retailers were nearby. The store itself is approximately 38,000 square feet, and has 15 aisles, in addition to a large produce section, meat counter, deli, bakery, and café selling pizza, chicken, and sandwiches. The store also sold some store-branded items (e.g., canned food). There were no nutrition or other health-related messages on display in the store. Upon entering the store, customers passed the customer service counter, where cigarettes were formerly sold. It offered gift cards, stamps, and lottery tickets; at one time, nicotine replacement therapy products were sold there. There was a picture of the owner and his son near the entrance of the store; when the first author visited, the owner was walking the aisles of the store, interacting with customers and employees. The owner, his son, and two managers collectively made the decision to end tobacco sales in 2008. For several years, they had discussed ending tobacco sales, but did so only after NY grocery 1 “gave them the green light” by also ending sales. The owner explained that they were motivated to end sales by health and business reasons. He didn’t elaborate on specific health concerns, except to say that “it’s not good for people to be smoking.” He also expressed a desire to set a good example for his younger employees, many of whom smoked, although none claimed to have stopped smoking due to the decision. Steadily declining tobacco sales played a big part in the decision as well. At one time NY grocery 2 had sold $20,000 worth of cigarettes per week; by the time the store ended sales, that figure had dwindled to $200- $1,000 per week. The store gave customers 3-weeks’ notice that tobacco sales would be ending, and continued to sell remaining inventory during that time. On the appointed end date, all remaining cigarettes were reportedly thrown “in the dumpster.” |
