shaw's and star market are two american grocery store chains under united management based in west bridgewater, massachusetts, employing about 30,000 associates in 154 total stores. 133 stores are operated under the shaw's banner in maine, massachusetts, new hampshire, rhode island, and vermont; while star market operates 21 stores in massachusetts, most of which are in or near boston. until 2010, shaw's operated stores in all six new england states and as of 2017 shaw's remained the only supermarket chain with stores in five of the six after it sold its connecticut operations. the chain's largest competitors are hannaford, market basket, price chopper, roche bros., wegmans, and stop & shop. star market is a companion store to shaw's; shaw's having purchased the competing chain in 1999.