Budwey's is Second Local Chain to Pull Tobacco From Shelves

Source from:  By Samantha Maziarz Christmann NEWS BUSINESS REPORTER 02/21/08 02/22/2008

Stores threw out $2,000 in products Budwey's Supermarket is the latest chain of grocery retailers to stub out tobacco sales. The company, which has stores in North Tonawanda and Kenmore, and another scheduled to open in New-fane in May, follows Rochester-based Wegmans Food Markets and DeCicco Family Markets, based outside of Yonkers, in pulling cigarettes and other tobacco products from its shelves. "Wegmans didn't put the idea in our head, but they gave us the green light," said Kenmore store manager Justin Budwey. Budwey said he and his father, owner Frank Budwey, had talked about eliminating tobacco for years. But, as a small, independent company, they feared the move would drive customers to giant competitors such as Wegmans and Tops Markets. On Feb. 11, Budwey's cleared out its diminished Kenmore tobacco supply to be sold off at its North Tonawanda store. On Tuesday, the store's self-imposed deadline, it threw out the remaining $2,000 worth of inventory in North Tonawanda and was done selling cigarettes for good. The American Lung Association congratulated Budwey's for being the latest company to put customer health above profit. "Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths, so by halting tobacco sales, Budwey's Supermarkets is helping to reduce the number of loved ones lost," said Michael Seilback, senior director of public policy and advocacy for the American Lung Association of New York State. "Taking these deadly products off the shelves does not solve the problem, but is a positive step in the continuing fight against big tobacco," he said. While Budwey hopes the store's move to go tobacco-free will help keep customers healthy, he said the decision was numbers driven, and doesn't want undue praise for the decision to end sales. "We've gotten great feedback from customers, but we know that cigarettes are an addictive drug, and if someone wants them, they can stop at any gas station and pick them up," he said. Budwey said tobacco sales began their most intense decline about eight years ago, probably because of increased state tobacco taxes, government education programs, and a general public awareness of the harmful nature of tobacco. By 2007, tobacco sales at Budwey's had dwindled to just $200 per week. Tops Markets, Buffalo Niagara's No. 1 supermarket chain by market share, continues to sell tobacco products. Tobacco products and accessories continue to be a big seller nationally. Tobacco products and accessories accounted for about $5.4 billion in sales in supermarkets during 2006, according to one estimate. The New York Association of Convenience Stores has estimated that tobacco sales can account for 15 percent to 30 percent of total sales inside a Western New York convenience store, excluding gasoline sales. Local sales tend to be on the lower end of the range, due to competition from Indian reservations, association officials have said. Target Corp., a discount department store chain based in Minnesota, halted cigarette sales back in 1996. Enditem