Stop & Shop and Giant Select Earthwise to Launch Reusable Shopping Bag Program

Earthwise Bag Company, Inc. today announced that The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company and Giant Food, two of the East Coast’s largest food retailers, will make Earthwise’s reusable bags available in all 565 of their stores throughout New England, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

The reusable shopping bag program is part of a corporate-wide initiative by Stop & Shop and Giant to promote environmental conservation, and encourage consumers to “reduce.reuse.recycle.” The Earthwise bags offer a durable, environmentally-friendly alternative to the costly and wasteful plastic and paper shopping bags typically used in grocery stores. At Stop & Shop and Giant, they will retail for $.99 each, providing an inexpensive way for shoppers to reduce waste and help protect the environment.

“Stop & Shop and Giant are committed to continuously understanding and promoting the environmental implications of conserving and recycling our resources. When we heard the staggering statistics about plastic and paper waste, we saw the opportunity to make a difference in our stores, which touch over hundreds of communities throughout the Northeast,” said Elizabeth Psaros, Marketing Manager for Stop & Shop. “What’s great about the Earthwise bags is that they’re not only environmentally-friendly, they’re consumer-friendly as well. For less than a dollar, our shoppers will get an attractive, durable, and lightweight bag that can actually hold more groceries, and can be washed and reused for a multitude of purposes.”

First introduced late last year in grocery stores, wineries, drug stores, and other merchants across the country, Earthwise’s reusable bags offer an easy, inexpensive way for retailers and consumers alike to “go green.”

“Food stores assume a lion’s share of the $4 billion spent on bags each year by retailers nationwide. And as bags become even less durable, holding an average of only three items, the growing need for double bagging will just create more costs – and more waste,” said Stanley Joffe, co-founder and president of Earthwise. ”Earthwise bags are a win-win-win for environmentally-aware grocers like Stop & Shop and Giant who can cut spending and generate new revenues simultaneously, and provide shoppers with a product they can really use — all the while making a positive impact on the environment.”

Pricing and Availability

Available today nationwide, Earthwise reusable bags are priced from $.99 retail. Earthwise provides merchants with no-cost consultations on promotional programs and branding to build customer adoption and loyalty, offers quick turnaround on customized orders of any size, and includes free merchandising display racks and signs. For sales inquiries, call 323-887-8115 or visit www.earthwisebags.com

About Earthwise Bag Company, Inc.

Earthwise is on a mission to save the environment — one plastic bag at a time. The company’s line of reusable shopping bags and wine totes reduce waste by offering an inexpensive, environmentally-friendly alternative to disposable plastic and paper shopping bags. Earthwise bags are available at 2,000+ grocery stores, wine shops, drug stores, and other retailers across the country. Earthwise also supports various environmental and non-profit organizations to help them increase awareness and raise funds Earthwise encourages everyone to be “earthwise” and to Choose to Reuse™. For more information, visit www.earthwisebags.com.

About Stop & Shop/Giant Food

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company and Giant Food employ more than 86,000 associates and operate more than 565 stores throughout the Eastern United States. They are part of Ahold, one of the world’s largest food providers.