Stop & Shop Plans to Close Underperforming Stores

Grocery Chain to Shutter Locations in Region

27 Connecticut Stores Impacted

BOSTON - Stop & Shop is planning to close underperforming stores in the coming years, a move that could have a significant impact on shoppers across the region.

Ahold Delhaize, the Netherlands-based owners of Stop & Shop, Food Lion, and Hannaford, said it will close several underperforming Stop & Shop locations. The company did not specify how many stores would be closed or which locations would be affected.

However, a source familiar with the matter told The Boston Globe that about 10% of Stop & Shop's 400 stores would be closed, including 27 locations in Connecticut. The source said the closures would take place over the next few years.

Stop & Shop operates a total of 149 stores in Connecticut, including 27 locations in the following towns:

• Branford
• Bridgeport
• Bristol
• Danbury
• Darien
• East Hartford
• Enfield
• Fairfield
• Glastonbury
• Groton
• Hamden
• Hartford
• Manchester
• Middletown
• Milford
• New Britain
• New Haven
• New London
• Norwalk
• Norwich
• Orange
• Stamford
• Stratford
• Torrington
• Waterbury
• West Hartford
• Westport

The closures are part of a broader effort by Ahold Delhaize to improve its financial performance. The company has been struggling with declining sales and profits in recent years.

The closures are likely to have a negative impact on Stop & Shop employees and customers. The company has not yet said how many employees will be affected by the closures.

Stop & Shop is the largest supermarket chain in New England. The company's closures will leave a void in the grocery market in the region.