* This is a living document that will be updated on a regular basis until it is no longer needed. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Stop & Shop News & Media update page.
Dear customers,
As you may have heard, beginning tomorrow all Stop & Shop stores will open early to service our most vulnerable customers from 6:00am – 7:30am daily. During those hours, we look forward to welcoming customers who are age 60 and over as well as customers who may have weakened immune systems and are more susceptible to COVID-19.
There has been a great deal of interest in this effort across our communities. However, in order to ensure that we provide the best experience we can for these customers, here are some guidelines and information:
These hours are to help our more vulnerable customers shop in a less crowded environment, if they prefer.
We plan to make these hours available EVERY day during this period, so it’s not necessary for everyone to come on the first day. This could result in large crowds, the very situation we are looking to prevent as it will make it more difficult for customers to practice social distancing.
While we recognize we may be experiencing product shortages in some areas, our stores receive deliveries throughout the day so our shelves will be replenished for shoppers at all hours. We are making our best efforts to have products available across high-demand categories throughout the day.
Stop & Shop has implemented added cleaning and sanitation efforts, which will continue throughout the day at all stores.
Finally, when you shop for your family, be sure to keep other families in mind. Shop responsibly and buy just what you need.
We hope you will join us in our efforts to care for the older members of our community and those who are most vulnerable at this time. We are also thankful to be able to continue to serve all members of our communities, and we appreciate your support in making this initiative a success.
Sincerely,
Gordon Reid
March 16
Caring for Our Neighbors: New Store Hours for Customers 60 and Older
Now, more than ever, it’s important we come together as a community to support each other during challenging times. Part of that is showing compassion and care for some of our neighbors who are most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus. According to the CDC, that is members of the population who are age 60 and older.
To support this group, beginning Thursday, March 19th, all Stop & Shop stores will open earlier in order to service only customers who are age 60 and over from 6:00a.m.-7:30a.m. daily.
We’re making the decision to offer this every day of the week to allow for community members in this age category to shop in a less crowded environment, which better enables social distancing. They’ll also be shopping prior to any other customers entering.
Beginning Thursday, people ages 60 and up can use a designated entrance, which will be marked at their local store, from 6:00a.m.-7:30a.m. Although we will not be requesting ID for entry, we ask that you please respect the purpose of the early opening – and do the right thing for your neighbors. Store associates do reserve the right to ask customers to leave if they are not a member of this age group.
As previously announced, most stores have adjusted their hours to 7:30a.m. to 8:00p.m. to enable our associates to spend more time unloading deliveries, stocking shelves – and to take some time for rest. Please note that our stores receive deliveries throughout the day, so our shelves will be replenished for shoppers at all hours. And, we have implemented added cleaning and sanitation efforts, which will continue throughout the day at all stores.
Our home delivery service will remain available to all customers as well. If you have a grandparent, parent, friend, or neighbor in this age group, remember you can place an order on their behalf with our new “Contact-Free” delivery option. With this service, we’ll notify you by text or email when the driver arrives, and they will simply leave the bags on the doorstep or building entry and return to their vehicle. We recognize there may be some delays with this service due to unprecedented demand, and we are continuing to work hard to meet your needs.
We hope you will join us in our efforts to care for the older members of our community at this time, and we are very grateful for your continued support.
March 14
As we continue to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our customers and associates and do our very best to meet customers’ shopping needs, we want to provide you with a few important updates regarding our store hours and Stop & Shop Delivery & Pickup.
All Stop & Shop store locations remain open and while we – like all retailers – are experiencing some shortages, we are doing everything possible to get products to our stores and to restock the shelves in every community. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as our teams continue to work hard to do so.
The following are some key updates we’d like you to know about:
Updated Store Hours
In order to allow more time for our associates to unload deliveries, stock shelves, and better serve you throughout the day, we are adjusting our hours to 7:30a.m.-8:00p.m. at most stores beginning Monday, March 16, until further notice. (There may be some exceptions. Please visit your local store location for details. New hours will also be posted on our website Monday.)
Pickup Services Temporarily Suspended
As a result of unprecedented demand as well as product shortages in some areas, we have temporarily suspended our online pickup service until further notice. Our store associates will instead focus on stocking product and other key priorities that will better meet the needs of all customers at this time. The service will be made available again once product availability increases.
Delays with Home Delivery
We recognize that online shoppers may be experiencing delays on our website as well as with our delivery times. This is again due to extremely high demand, and our teams are working incredibly hard to ensure the site is running smoothly so that you can continue to receive orders when you need them.
Stop & Shop is continuing to maintain high levels of hygiene and sanitation in its stores and online operations. We’re also taking additional measures during this time, which include wiping down checkout areas including the belts and pin pads with disinfectant even more frequently. We will continue to follow guidance from the CDC to help keep our customers and associates safe.
Our deepest thanks for continuing to support us, and we will continue to provide timely updates on our services and hours in the coming weeks.
March 10
Customer FAQs
What are you doing to keep your stores clean and safe?
Stop & Shop has amplified its cleaning and sanitizing efforts to ensure you can shop with confidence.
Upon entering all our stores, disinfecting wipes are available near the entrance, and customers are welcome to wipe down carts, hand baskets, and ScanIt! devices before use.
Our associates are frequently wiping down self-service locations and checkout areas with disinfectant. This includes the belts and pin pads at our registers.
We have suspended our food sampling programs, in-store events, as well as community solicitation until further notice.
Are you taking any precautions with your associates?
We are providing them with updated direction and guidance from the CDC and local health officials on healthy workplace habits, and we are working to ensure our associates have items like disinfecting wipes, gloves and hand sanitizers to use at work to help keep themselves and customers healthy. In addition, associates are conducting regular handwashing every 20-30 minutes. Stop & Shop is encouraging all associates who don’t feel well to stay at home.
Are you experiencing a shortage of products? Is there an item limit?
Stop & Shop is seeing increased sales on items like hand sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, Lysol sprays, bleach, antibacterial soap and other cleaning products. We’re working diligently along with our suppliers to keep these high-demand products in stock.
Stop & Shop has placed a purchase limit on high-demand items such as hand sanitizer and Lysol wipes in stores as well as online, though the items may vary by location. The current limit is 5 items per customer.
My community group’s solicitation was canceled, why?
Out of an abundance of caution, all community group solicitation has been canceled until further notice as we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our customers and associates.
There are no in-store events or sampling, why?
All in-store events and food sampling have been canceled until further notice as we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our customers and associates.
What precautions are being taken at the Pharmacy?
At all pharmacies, our associates are wiping down the pharmacy counters and pin pads even more frequently with disinfectant. Our pharmacy associates are also conducting handwashing at more frequent intervals as well as using hand sanitizer on a regular basis. Additionally, all pharmacy patrons are encouraged, as always, to remain behind the privacy line until the customer ahead of them has left the area.
What precautions are being taken for home delivery?
Our home delivery facilities and drivers are taking additional measures to promote cleanliness through regular handwashing and use of hand sanitizer, per CDC guidance.
Stop & Shop’s home delivery customers can now request an “unattended delivery.” This means that the driver will drop your order on your front step, ring the doorbell, then depart. This can be requested under special instructions at checkout or by e-mailing [email protected].
What precautions are being taken for pickup?
Our pickup associates are following all of the same sanitizing precautions including surface sanitization and regular hand washing every 20-30 minutes.