Stop & Shop Marks Town’s Anniversary

Since the debut of Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. LLC’s second Pembroke, Mass., store coincides with the town’s 300th anniversary celebration, the Ahold USA division is helping to raise funds for the occasion. For every Stop & Shop “check-in” on Facebook or Foursquare during the store’s grand-opening weekend (June 8-10), the chain is donating $1, up to $1,000, as a supplement to the $2,500 already being contributed to the town’s anniversary fund.

“One of the greatest rewards of partnering with a town to create a new store location is being able to give back to our customers not only during their in-store shopping experience, but also in community support,” said Joe Kelley, president, Stop & Shop New England division, which employs about 62,000 associates and operates more than 400 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey. “We encourage local Pembroke residents to help us raise additional funds, which can be used for a variety of activities throughout the town’s anniversary year.”

Featuring full-service meat, seafood, and natural and organic departments, the new 45,000-square-foot store is offering further attractions over the weekend, including the chance to win $1,000 worth of prizes through its “Stop & Shop Brands Patrol!” store-brands program, and character appearances from the likes of Tony the Tiger, Oreo and Goldie the goldfish. Additionally, former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield (pictured) was on hand at the June 7 grand-opening reception.

The location, which plans to pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in the coming months, is anticipated to use up to 20 percent less energy than a typical grocery store of its size.