Hannaford Coming to Exeter

Hannaford announced on Friday morning that it will open a new store this spring in the old Stop & Shop location at 141 Portsmouth Ave.

The Exeter Stop & Shop location closed in August, along with the Starbucks located inside the store. It was one of six New Hampshire stores the company shut down. 

Rumors that Hannaford might take over the space had been swirling for several months.

The 65,000-square-foot supermarket and full-service pharmacy is expected to employ about 150 people, according to a press release issued by Hannaford.

"We are excited to bring Hannaford’s signature combination of low everyday prices, great variety and high-quality fresh foods to Exeter," said Eric Blom, Hannaford spokesman. "This new store will create jobs, provide local organizations with a new community partner and make it more convenient for local customers to shop."

The Exeter Hannaford will offer a full-service butcher shop and seafood counter, as well as a bakery, deli, fresh produce and grocery departments and an extensive selection of natural, organic and gluten-free items. The pharmacy will feature a consultation room for those who need extra privacy when talking with a pharmacist or getting a flu shot.

Hannaford said the existing retailers at the Exeter Shopping Center Plaza will continue to operate without interruption. 

As part of the transaction, Hannaford has also acquired a lease to the former Stop & Shop building in Bedford. The company said it is currently evaluating that site and has no immediate announcements related to the property.

The Exeter Hannaford will be the company’s 34th New Hampshire store – more than any other grocer in the state. Based in Maine, Hannaford will now have a total of 184 supermarkets in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York.

"Hannaford works to make shopping more convenient and affordable for customers," Blom said. "When great locations such as this become available, we look hard at whether a new store can help us meet our customers’ needs."

In addition to selling New Hampshire products, the Exeter store will participate in company-wide civic initiatives such as Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger and Hannaford Helps Schools. Together, those two programs contributed more than $400,000 to schools and nonprofit organizations in New Hampshire last year.