Stop & Shop to Close Conn., N.J. Administrative Facilities
QUINCY, Mass. -- Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. here said this week it would close its satellite office facilities in North Haven, Conn. and Edison, N.J. by the end of the year.
Smaller field offices will replace the closing facilities, Stop & Shop spokeswoman Faith Weiner told Progressive Grocer.
Weiner added that the closures were "part of an overall $50 million cost savings program announced earlier this year...to reposition Stop & Shop [and fellow Ahold banner Giant Food] in the marketplace and allow us to remain competitive. In order to continue to reduce costs to our customers and deliver better and improved value to them, we must reduce our operating costs. We have talked to associates impacted by these actions."
Although a local newspaper reported that about 40 associates would be affected by the North Haven office closure, Weiner noted, "We did not release any numbers for either facility, and don't plan to."
The retailer has also recently said that it would move some seafood and floral sections to a self-service model as a way to contain costs.
In other Stop & Shop news, a federal judge has ruled that the four men accused of stealing credit and debit card information from the company's shoppers are to be held at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Providence, R.I. until at least June 1, according to published reports. The U.S. attorney last week sought a 60-day continuance of the case to allow the parties to finalize a plea agreement. The suspects face both state and federal charges for tampering with PIN pads at three Rhode Island Stop & Shop stores.
Smaller field offices will replace the closing facilities, Stop & Shop spokeswoman Faith Weiner told Progressive Grocer.
Weiner added that the closures were "part of an overall $50 million cost savings program announced earlier this year...to reposition Stop & Shop [and fellow Ahold banner Giant Food] in the marketplace and allow us to remain competitive. In order to continue to reduce costs to our customers and deliver better and improved value to them, we must reduce our operating costs. We have talked to associates impacted by these actions."
Although a local newspaper reported that about 40 associates would be affected by the North Haven office closure, Weiner noted, "We did not release any numbers for either facility, and don't plan to."
The retailer has also recently said that it would move some seafood and floral sections to a self-service model as a way to contain costs.
In other Stop & Shop news, a federal judge has ruled that the four men accused of stealing credit and debit card information from the company's shoppers are to be held at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Providence, R.I. until at least June 1, according to published reports. The U.S. attorney last week sought a 60-day continuance of the case to allow the parties to finalize a plea agreement. The suspects face both state and federal charges for tampering with PIN pads at three Rhode Island Stop & Shop stores.