Martin’s bans charities from soliciting donations outside stores

RICHMOND, Va. As Royal Ahold banner Martin’s Food Markets begins the process of rebranding the 25 Ukrop’s stores it recently purchased, it has reversed such long-standing Ukrop’s policies as closing on Sundays and not selling alcohol.

But according to published reports, it’s putting the kibosh on another policy: allowing charity groups to solicit donations outside the stores.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Wednesday that Martin’s would no longer allow such groups as the Girl Scouts and Salvation Army to sell products or collect donations, though the chain plans to buy 1,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies and donate them to a local food bank. The newspaper quoted a company statement as saying that the move reflected a desire expressed by customers. Martin’s already had a policy of banning charities from working in front of its stores.