Sweden - Umeå ICA suerpermarket - no cigarettes for sale..

June 1, 2008 - Umeå branch of supermarket chain Ica in northern Sweden is clearing its shelves of cigarettes. As of June 1st, Ica in Umeå will be the first grocery store in Sweden to throw out all tobacco products apart from snus, the chewing tobacco popular in Sweden, E24 reports.

Manager Mats Calla felt that the supermarket’s support of local sports and healthy living was at odds with sales of cigarettes. The store was apparently inspired by other countries and the US where many grocery stores have stopped stocking cigarettes.

Stubbing out those cigarettes is sure to make a dent in the store’s economy. Last year, Ica Umeå’s sales of tobacco were 1.5 million kronor ($250,500), but Mats Calla believes many other stores will follow suit in the end.

Instead of cigarettes, Ica in Umeå will offer its customers anti-smoking products to help them kick the habit.

U.S. stores that have removed all tobacco products: Detroit Area Hiller's Markets..; San Francisco, Boston, Wegmans Food Markets and DeCicco Markets..

Reference: No butts or ifs for cigarettes at Ica, The Local, 5/11/2008.

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