Stop & Shop Customers Help Raise More Than $2 Million to Fight Hunger

QUINCY, Mass., Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company set a new record in 2010 with its annual Food for Friends campaign. Over $2 million – a 40% increase from 2009 – will be donated to more than 300 local food pantries and regional food banks throughout Stop & Shop's operating areas this year.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers and associates for their tremendous generosity and support of our annual Food for Friends program," said Mark McGowan, New England division president of Stop & Shop. "The need is great – even more so this year. These efforts will allow our regional and local food bank partners to provide meals to thousands of families in our communities."

Stop & Shop's 21st annual Food for Friends program ran in all 398 Stop & Shop stores from October 29th through December 10th. Customers donated $1, $3, or $5 "paper turkeys" at their local Stop & Shop. Customer contributions accounted for 90% of the $2 million; Stop & Shop contributed $500 per store.

Sixty percent of the funds will go directly to hundreds of local food pantries that stores adopt in each community. Forty percent will be allocated to the following state food banks:

• Greater Boston Food Bank - $220,404
• Connecticut Food Bank - $123,538
• Foodshare - $92,320
• Rhode Island Community Food Bank - $72,765
• Community Food Bank of New Jersey - $72,306
• Long Island Cares - $66,558
• Food Bank for New York City - $56,847
• Food Bank of Western Massachusetts - $45,288
• Worcester County Food Bank - $36,231
• Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties - $34,205
• Island Harvest - $33,113
• Food Bank of Westchester County - $22,356
• Food Bank of Hudson Valley - $19,138
• New Hampshire Food Bank - $9,339

"We are proud of this program – it's truly a united effort between our customers and associates," said Ron Onorato, New York Metro division president of Stop & Shop. "It's overwhelming to see the generosity and spirit that exists to help others."

Exemplifying this point, the following Stop & Shop stores and customers raised the most in their communities:  

1. $20,126 – Enfield CT (Store 2605)
2. $18,951 – Narragansett RI (Store 718)
3. $14,730 – Madison CT (Store 624)
4. $14,464 – Hingham MA (Store 35)
5. $14,143 – Natick MA (Store 6)
6. $13,957 – Franklin MA (Store 472)
7. $13,455 – Colchester CT (Store 608)
8. $13,321 – E. Providence RI (Store 2701)
9. $13,252 – Worcester MA (Store 85)
10. $13,153 – Kingstown RI (Store 737)
11. $12,766 – Hudson MA (Store 489)
12. $12,619 – Madison NJ (Store 2805)
13. $12,530 – Old Saybrook CT (Store 688)
14. $11,928 – Gardner MA (Store 434)
15. $11,682 – Simsbury CT (Store 607)
16. $11,601 – Somerset NJ (Store 809)
17. $11,290 – Southbury CT (Store 621)
18. $11,120 – Montville CT (Store 678)
19. $11,100 – Newington CT (Store 630)
20. $10,761 – Sparta NJ (Store 879)

About Stop & Shop

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company employs nearly 62,000 associates and operates 398 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey. The company is a member of the US Green Building Council and has been awarded LEED (EB) certifications for 50 of its existing stores. Stop & Shop has been recognized by the EPA for the superior energy management of its stores and is also a member of the EPA's Smart Way program. Stop & Shop is an Ahold company. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com.

SOURCE The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company