Stop & Shop Opens New Cranston, R.I., Store

QUINCY, Mass., Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC announced today it will open its doors tomorrow to its third Cranston, R.I., location. The new store, located at 275 Warwick Ave., will employ 150 associates with full-service departments including meat, seafood, deli, bakery and floral.

To celebrate the grand opening, Stop & Shop is offering special promotions and savings for customers Sep. 30 through Oct. 22:

• Brands Patrol – Stop & Shop is giving $10,000 worth of prizes through its Stop & Shop Brands Patrol! Customers that purchase Nature's Promise and Stop & Shop brand products could win up to $50 in Stop & Shop gift cards. Opening weekend (9/30-10/2) 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Subsequent Saturdays only 10/8, 10/15, and 10/22, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Make the Swap – The first 500 customers opening weekend to trade in a competitor's loyalty card for a Shop & Stop Card will receive a $5 Stop & Shop gift card.
• Passport Program – Customers and kids can travel and tour designated areas of the store, sample food and collect stamps along the way. Visit five areas and adults will receive a free reusable bag (while supplies last), and kids can receive a treat at the bakery! Opening weekend hours are Friday 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

For nearly 100 years, Stop & Shop has provided customers with value and convenience every time they shop. This new store in Cranston is no exception as it offers a variety of innovative solutions and deals to make shopping easier and affordable. Features include:

• Check It! self checkout lanes, Scan It! hand held devices that allow customers to scan and bag groceries while they shop and Order It! deli kiosks where shoppers may pre-order deli items
• Prepared foods, cheese departments and a wide selection of natural and organics
• Weekly Specials!, Real Deals! (where thousands of items are on sale for several weeks), and look for Compare and Save! tags to save more
• A new Citizens Bank branch offering seven-day banking and extended hours, in-store bankers, enhanced ATMs and one-touch access to additional banking specialists who can provide information and advice
• Red Box and Coinstar® kiosks are located inside the store for added convenience

"We value the relationship we have with our Cranston area customers and community partners and are pleased to open another store to help further serve the community," said Mark McGowan, president, Stop & Shop New England Division.

A Fresh, Innovative Store

The new store which will pursue LEED certification in the coming months was built with a range of energy-efficient features including:

• New DuctSox (fabric duct) ventilation system – a first of its kind use for Stop & Shop – to provide more uniform airflow
• ECM motors in the refrigerated fixtures and walk-in coolers
• Low-mercury energy efficient T5 HO fluorescent light fixtures with occupancy sensors in the storage areas and offices
• LED lights for accent lighting (also in the refrigerated display cases and interior/exterior signage)
• An Energy Management System to monitor the performance of the lighting, refrigeration, and HVAC systems
• Low flow fixtures in the bathrooms and prep areas to reduce water consumption

Community Partnerships

Stop & Shop will support ongoing initiatives in the Cranston area and throughout New England to make a difference in local communities.

Cranston-area stores have partnered with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and participate in the food bank's Fresh Food Recovery program. As part of the Grand Opening activities, the new Cranston store has donated a pallet of fresh produce to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

Through Food for Friends, customers can feel good every time they shop by donating $1, $3 or $5 at any of their local Cranston Stop & Shops. Sixty percent of funds raised will be donated locally to a new community partner (to be announced at the store's private Grand Opening reception 9/29); 40 percent will be donated to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Stop & Shop will also donate a minimum of $500 from its company contribution fund per store during Food for Friends to strengthen the program. The annual program returns to stores in late October.

Store Hours

The new Cranston store at 275 Warwick Ave. is open 7 a.m. – midnight Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday. For additional store details, information about in-store offerings and savings or Stop & Shop's community partnerships including Food for Friends and A+ School Rewards, visit www.stopandshop.com.

Members of the media are also encouraged to contact Laura Carlson at [email protected].

About Stop & Shop

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC employs nearly 62,000 associates and operates more than 390 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey. The company helps support local communities fight hunger, combat childhood cancer, and promotes general health and wellness – with an 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; has been awarded LEED (EB) certifications for 50 of its existing stores; 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

SOURCE Stop & Shop Supermarket Company