A supermarket chain based in upstate New York has announced that it will no longer sell cigarettes or other tobacco products, citing concerns about customers' health, the Elmira Star-Gazette reported Jan. 5.

"As a company, we respect a person's right to smoke," said Danny Wegman, CEO of the Wegman's chain. "But we also understand the destructive role smoking plays in health." Company officials acknowledged that tobacco products are a "very profitable category" but said stocks will not be replenished once stores run out in February.

Signs have been put up at Wegman's stores announcing the decision, which was praised by the Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Community Partnership. "It's a great move," said agency director Cassie Coombs. "Wegmans is a very forward company. They're very health aware."