Stop & Shop Donates $29 Million In 2014

PURCHASE, N.Y. and QUINCY, Mass., March 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC today announced its charitable donations made in 2014 totaled more than $29 million in combined cash and product contributions from customers, vendors and associates. As part of its ongoing better neighbor and responsible retailing efforts, Stop & Shop is committed to supporting organizations that help eradicate hunger and improve the quality of life for children throughout the communities it serves.

"These efforts underscore Stop & Shop's commitment to the communities we serve," said Don Sussman, President of Stop & Shop New York Metro and New England Divisions. "We are proud that the programs we support make a difference in the areas of healthy living, community well-being and care for the environment."

Fighting Hunger
As a food retailer, Stop & Shop recognizes the important role it can play in hunger relief efforts and in 2014 donations to regional food bank partners and local pantries accounted for 49.5% or $14.8 million of the overall donations. Of the total hunger-related donation amount, approximately 86% came from safe consumable food donations, such as bakery items and frozen meat to regional food bank partners. With Stop & Shop's Meat the Needs program, the grocer freezes meat that would otherwise go unsold, but is still safe to consume, and donates it to regional food bank partners. In 2014, a total of 3 million pounds of meat were diverted from landfills and onto the plates of those in need.

Helping Kids
In 2014, Stop & Shop customers, associates and vendors also came together to help donate hope and create miracles for children throughout its operating area by donating $4 million in support of local pediatric cancer hospitals and research organizations. Since 1990, Stop & Shop has raised more than $71 million for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Massachusetts.

Stop & Shop is also committed to helping kids in education with its A+ School Rewards program. More than 3,800 public and private schools received $2.5 million during the 2013-14 school year to fund scholarship programs, technology equipment and other educational needs. Since A+ School Rewards launched in 2008, more than $9.6 million has been donated to local schools.

Supporting Communities
In addition to its efforts to fight hunger and help kids, Stop & Shop also donated to American Cancer Society Making Strides for breast cancer awareness, Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF), Support Our Troops and more.  In addition, Stop & Shop committed more than $5.5 million in contributions to local community groups and various nonprofit organizations throughout its market area, impacting tens of thousands of individuals and families.

About Stop & Shop

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC employs over 59,000 associates and operates 395 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. The company helps support local communities fight hunger, combat childhood cancer and promote general health and wellness – with emphasis on children's educational and support programs. In its commitment to be a sustainable company, Stop & Shop is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and EPA's Smart Way program and has been recognized by the EPA for the superior energy management of its stores. Stop & Shop is an Ahold company. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com or www.facebook.com/stopandshop.

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SOURCE Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC

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