Wegmans

State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., has presented Wegmans Food Markets CEO, Danny Wegman, with the first New York State Tobacco Control Leadership Award. The award recognizes Wegmans' significant contributions to advancing the health of New Yorkers by removing cigarettes and tobacco products from all Wegmans Food Markets. "New York salutes Wegmans by proclaiming today Wegmans Food Markets Tobacco-Free Day throughout the state," said Governor Paterson. "Today we recognize Wegmans' vision and leadership in advancing the health of New Yorkers and its commitment to creating a more healthful environment for its customers and employees by removing cigarettes and tobacco products from all Wegmans Food Markets."

Budwey's Supermarkets

Budwey's Supermarket, located in North Tonawanda and Kenmore, NY, and another scheduled to open in New-fane, follows Rochester-based Wegmans Food Markets and DeCicco Family Markets, based outside of Yonkers, in pulling cigarettes and other tobacco products from its shelves. 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.

DeCicco Family Markets

DeCicco Family Markets, the chain of supermarkets scattered throughout Westchester and Rockland Counties, say they have never been smokers. But they understand the health hazards associated with tobacco, said Joseph DeCicco, a senior partner in the business. That helped persuade the DeCicco family to enact a policy they had been considering for years: Beginning March 1, the family decided, it would no longer sell tobacco products in any of its six stores, including those in Pelham, Bronxville, Scarsdale, Jefferson Valley and New City.