RETAILING

A&P; to Remove Cigarette Machines From Stores: Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. said it will remove the vending machines from its supermarkets by the end of July in support of efforts to reduce tobacco use by minors. Between 25 and 50 vending machines remain in A&P; stores, spokesman Mike Rourke said. During the last two years, the company has gradually been removing the machines, which used to number in the hundreds, he said. A&P;, of Montvale, N.J., operates A&P;, Waldbaum’s, Food Emporium, Super Fresh and several other supermarket chains. It has more than 1,000 stores in 20 states and Canada.