A popular Northeast grocery chain plans to shutter another round of stores after repeat attempts to update its network of more than 350 locations.

Stop & Shop announced plans to close at least four underperforming stores, Inc.com reported earlier this week.

The company confirmed three stores will close in New Jersey and one in Connecticut.

“Each decision was made independently and is not part of a broader plan to close multiple locations,” a company spokesperson said. “We do not have plans to close additional stores in this market at this time.”

Employees impacted by the closures will have a chance to find positions at others stores, the spokesperson told Inc.

The Independent contacted Ahold Delhaize, the Dutch company that owns the chain, for comment.

Two years ago, the company announced it was closing 32 stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.

Stop & Shop has tried to revitalize its brand by launching a long-term initiative to remodel its entire network of stores in 2018, but had only finished half the planned remodels by 2024, according to industry news site Grocery Dive.

Stop & Shop’s closures are part of a wider trend among national and regional grocery stores over the past two years. Kroger revealed in June 2025 that it planned to close 60 locations and lay off 1,000 employees over 18 months.

In January, retail giant Amazon said it was closing all 72 Amazon Go convenience stores and Amazon Fresh supermarkets.

Consumers are opting for budget shopping options like Walmart, Aldi and Dollar General and even those earning more than $100,000 a year are struggling with rising costs of living.

Since President Donald Trump launched a war with Iran February 28, across-the-board costs for everything from gas to groceries have gone up. Inflation peaked at 4.2 percent in May before falling to 3.5 percent in June.

Supply chains face increased transit times and higher fuel consumption, resulting in rising costs for businesses such as grocery stores, according to the U.K.-based Oxford College of Procurement and Supply.

Even slight changes to customer preferences, supply chain costs and labor can jeopardize the razor-thin 1 percent to 3 percent margins that grocery stores survive on, according to market research firm VantaInsights.

Stores - and shoppers - may not see any relief from high prices in the coming months. Fighting in the Middle East continues after peace talks between the United States and Iran broke down in June.