ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Wegmans Food Markets Inc., an upscale supermarket chain with 71 stores in five states, said today that it would stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products next month.

"We have come to this decision after thinking about the role smoking plays in people's health," the company's top executives, Danny Wegman and his daughter, Colleen, said in a letter to employees.

"We certainly respect a person's right to smoke, but we believe there are few of us who would introduce our children to smoking."

The family owned business said it had stopped ordering tobacco supplies and would sell its remaining inventory until Feb. 10. Wegmans has 50 stores in New York, 11 in Pennsylvania, seven in New Jersey, two in Virginia and one in Maryland.