Stop & Shop Acquires 5 Foodtown Stores
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. LLC has finalized the acquisition of five New Jersey Shore-area Foodtown supermarkets previously owned by Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.-based Norkus Enterprises Inc. The sale involves locations in Freehold Township, Manalapan, Neptune City, Point Pleasant Beach and Long Branch. Stop & Shop, a division of Ahold USA, currently operates 10 stores in Monmouth and Ocean counties.
“Stop & Shop is always looking for opportunities and convenient locations to better serve our customers,” said Ron Onorato, Division president of Stop & Shop’s New York metro division in Fairfield, Conn.
The banner will immediately begin converting all of the stores, with the aim of reopening all of them on Friday, May 27 as Stop & Shop locations. The pharmacy at the Neptune City location will remain open during the conversion process for customer convenience. “It has taken a tremendous behind-the-scenes effort to ensure a smooth transition, and a great partnership with the Norkus family members and their team to make this happen,” noted Bob Yager, SVP of operations for Stop & Shop's New York metro division. “Within 10 days, we will refresh the stores to provide shoppers with a clean, up-to-date look and a convenient shopping experience.”
During the first phase of the conversion, according to Yager, the company will clean, update technology and re-merchandise. After the stores reopen, the company will embark on remodeling the Freehold Township and Manalapan stores this summer, with renovations of the three remaining stores slated to begin in the fall.
“While all store aisles will be updated with new signage, we will be bringing a greater assortment of products and savings to customers throughout the store,” explained John Stobierski, VP of sales for Stop & Shop's New York metro division.
Additionally, many Norkus Foodtown associates have been offered positions at the new Stop & Shop stores or at other stores within the Stop & Shop chain.
To mark the store reopenings, Stop & Shop will make a $10,000 donation to the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Stop & Shop employs almost 62,000 associates and operates more than 390 stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey.