Wegmans Food Markets & Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Launch QuitClub, a Smoking Cessation Program for Wegmans Employees

BUFFALO, NY — Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center have joined forces to offer the QuitClub, a stop-smoking program, to all Wegmans employees and eligible spouses who want to quit smoking.

Participants in the QuitClub will have access to the specialized services of Roswell Park’s tobacco cessation program. These services include telephone counseling provided by trained Quit Coaches, stop smoking medications, a customized website offering interactive and informational quit tools, and in-store support to help smokers quit for good. Wegmans will pay the entire cost of the program; employees can join free.

“We are pleased to join with Roswell Park, a nationally recognized cancer center, to offer this valuable program to our employees in support of healthy lifestyle choices,” said Becky Lyons, Wegmans Director of Benefits and Wellness. “Quitting smoking is difficult, so it’s very important that we provide the best tools to help them succeed.”

“The cessation program provides an effective, cost-efficient, evidence-based approach to improve successful quits and keep people motivated to stay quit,” says Andrew Hyland, PhD, Chairman of the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell Park. “The personalized stop smoking plan created with a trained Quit Coach combined with online support has been documented to increase the ability of smokers to successfully quit.”

“Wegmans Food Markets is known nationally as a company that values the contributions of its employees. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with them as they seek to improve employee wellness with the addition of the QuitClub,” says Donald Trump, MD, FACP, President & CEO of Roswell Park.

In 2008, Wegmans’ decision to stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products was motivated by their concern for the destructive role smoking plays in health. At the same time, Wegmans established an initial tobacco cessation program for its employees, demonstrating the company’s commitment to both employee and community wellness.

“This unique collaboration with Roswell Park will take our efforts to a new level and help our employees access the best resources and services available,” adds Lyons.

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About Wegmans

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is an 83-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, founded in 1916, is recognized as an industry leader and innovator. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 16 consecutive years. In 2013, Wegmans ranked #5 on the list.

About Roswell Park

The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1898, Roswell Park is one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org. Follow Roswell Park on Facebook and Twitter.

Media Contact

Tara Yates, Director of Public Affairs
716-845-5747; tara.yates@roswellpark.org
Wegmans Media Contact:
Jo Natale, Director of Media Relations
585-429-3627; jo.natale@wegmans.com