Giant Eagle doesn't plan on another penny collection

The turnout was massive, with long lines of customers at Giant Eagle stores across the region carrying containers, boxes and shopping carts full of pennies.

But it appears that Saturday was the only event of its kind at the grocery chain — at least for now.

Giant Eagle’s double-your-money offer for pennies resulted in the chain receiving more than 100 million pennies across its 200 stores, said Bill Artman, president and CEO.

The promotion was intended to restock the chain’s supply of pennies, which are no longer produced at the U.S. Mint and are being phased out in the national currency supply.

President Donald Trump in February directed the U.S. Treasury to stop producing new pennies, which cost more than 3 cents to produce. Since then, U.S. mints have stopped production. They delivered their last shipment of new pennies in August.

Giant Eagle officials told TribLive Monday that the grocer doesn’t have any additional penny collections planned.

“This number is nothing short of amazing,” Artman said of the turnout Saturday. “This incredible experience will ensure we can provide exact change to customers for months to come. But more importantly, it resulted in more than $2 million in Giant Eagle gift cards being awarded to our customers at such an incredibly important time for our communities.”