Stop & Shop to Close 32 Underperforming Stores

Grocery Chain Faces Challenges in Physical Retail

Company Closures Signal Changing Consumer Habits

WEB - Supermarket chain Stop & Shop will close underperforming stores in the US northeast as part of the company's efforts to improve its financial performance. The closures, which were announced by the company's parent company, Ahold Delhaize, come as the grocery industry faces increasing competition from online retailers and discount chains.

WEB - "We are closing 32 underperforming stores in order to improve our overall financial performance," said Ahold Delhaize CEO Frans Muller. "These stores have been consistently underperforming for a number of years, and we believe that closing them will allow us to focus our resources on our more successful stores."

WEB - The closures will affect stores in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. The company said that it will work to relocate employees from the affected stores to other locations.

WEB - "We are committed to serving our customers in the best way possible," said Muller. "We will continue to invest in our stores and our online operations to provide our customers with the best possible shopping experience."