Tops Friendly Markets’ newest store, a 38,000-square-foot location in Spencerport, N.Y., took the place of a former IGA that had been vacant for some time. The store, which the moderately upscale community had been lobbying for, is located in the town’s main shopping district. It offers many of the features — such as a sit-down cafe, a fuel station and a variety of local products — that Tops is leveraging to distinguish itself from competitors. (Photos by Vasily Baziuk)
Frank Curci returned to Tops as president and chief executive officer when Morgan Stanley Private Equity acquired the chain from Ahold in 2007.
Extensive service departments, including in-store bakeries, help distinguish Tops in the Spencerport market. Since the acquisition of Penn Traffic, several Tops stores have added in-store doughnut production.
Tops emphasizes its service meat departments as a distinguishing feature in its stores.
Value-added meat products are prepared in-store each day at Tops.
Tops has redesigned its private label with a larger store logo and a yellow border around the product name.
Tops offers an extensive selection of private label, but emphasizes variety by seeking to offer a broad selection of national brands as well.
Tops features the World Classics line of gourmet and specialty products offered through its private-label partner, Topco. A display is located near the entrance of the Spencerport store.
The Tops store in Spencerport features a selection of artisan beers in addition to local favorites like Labatt.
Through Tops’ excusive partnership with Tim Hortons, the Canadian coffee chain has a presence in all Tops locations, including the stores acquired from Penn Traffic.
A cheese display island at the Spencerport store is a fixture that will be replicated in other Tops locations.
Tops used a produce display format in the Spencerport store that is similar to the displays used in the smaller Penn Traffic locations it acquired. The produce is also located at the back of the store in this location, as opposed to the front.