Wegman’s pulls Tobacco from stores
So is this the new and improved Wegmans? The socially conscious Wegmans . First plastic bags now Tobacco? I’m guessing it is a business decision and, frankly, I am happy to see it.
ROCHESTER, NY (2008-01-04) Employee health, not public image, is the reason that Wegmans is pulling cigarettes from its shelves, according to a company spokesperson. Jo Natale with Wegmans media relations says the new policy is already in place.
“Any inventory that remains in the stores today will be sold, through February 9. No new orders will be placed. That will mean that some brands will be out of stock. And then whatever remains on February 9 will be removed from the stores. And beginning February 10, we will not be selling any cigarettes or tobacco products.”
Does this hurt Wegmans? probably not. Did it hurt Target who stopped selling tobacco in 1996?
From the D&C had a write-up as well (a more detailed write-up)
On Friday, a pack of Marlboro cigarettes at the East Avenue Wegmans was $6.06 before taxes. Compare that with $4.44 at nearby Tops Markets Inc. and $4.27 at a Hess gas station.
Like I said when Wegmans introduced reusable bags - this is likely more of a business decision than anything else.
Frankly in my opinion a good business decision.
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Just saw this in the D&C print edition. I like the decision.
Wegman’s is an interesting company. They’re ruthless in many ways, but they do really seem to care about their employees.
It’s a bold move…and I certainly admire bold moves.
People are asking if this helps or hurts Wegmans. I’m not exactly sure how it can help–from a purely business standpoint.
I agree. I hate smoking and I cheer Wegman’s decision not to sell coffin nails, but I think they’re losing money over this. Perhaps in a very long-term view it is good business, and that might be what stlo7 meant, but in the short- to mid-term, they have decided to stop selling a profitable and easy-to-stock item with a long shelf life.
When they ELIMINATE PLASTIC BAGS, I will applaud them. The whole cigarette issue is commendable, but the State is the one that needs to take the lead on smoking. The tax money is too attractive to do anything more than slap the wrists of the bad, bad smoker.
Here’s a good read on what is happening in the oceans because of plastic bags - it’s what you can’t see that is utterly astonishing:
http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/travel-leisure/Our_oceans_are_turning_into_plastic_are_we.shtml
Short term it hurts, long term it helps.
More floor space, less risk form underage smoking ID,happier customers not walking through a cloud of smoke or the smoking scent becuase less employees are smokers, Good will generated because they are taking a bold move.
I’m sure the financial loss can easily be overcome.
More folks are quitting, their cost per pack is higher now and per the articles their tobacco revenue is falling.
Bottom line - when others adopt this policy - they will have already figured out how to adjust.
Bold indeed.
Tops Markets lost their license to sell cigarettes over a year and a half ago because of too many violations of underage sales. When the period of the suspension expired, they never revisited the issue of selling cigarettes and have been cigarette free for a very long time without cheers from the health care industry or the media.
Instead, people go across the street to the Rite Aid or the gas stations to buy their smokes. The drugs stores are the true hypocrites - selling the medications to those with health issues directly related to smoking, all the while selling the cigarettes to the next generation of smokers who will contribute more in medications and treatment due to smoking, than the sale of the cigarettes will ever lead to in terms of the bottom line.
Ah…Tops gets no props because they were caught selling to minors…
What makes you think this problem wasn’t the catalyst for Wegman’s decision?
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Tops hasn’t discontinued selling cigarettes as a Corporate Policy. They are still sold at the stores in Genesee and Wyoming Counties.
I’m hardly impressed. Wegmans has always been the place of last resort to buy cigarettes. Their prices are ridiculously high and their policies (mandatory ID checks for all and only being able to buy them at the service desk) have created an atmosphere that discourages people from buying. Consequently, I’m certain that they aren’t making the kind of profit that they are making from beer and lottery ticket sales. Which, you may have noticed, continue unabated.