Tops Friendly Markets says it has completed the transition of five stores it acquired in April from Supermarket Management Inc., a longtime franchise partner. These stores, now operating under the Tops Friendly Markets LLC banner, include four full-service Tops locations in Depew, Lockport, South Buffalo, and Buffalo’s west side, along with a Tops Xpress store in Lancaster, N.Y., according to a release.
According to the agreement with SMI, the new Tops stores will keep their existing management teams, continue to employ all 585 associates across the five locations, and maintain all their current in-store operations, including pharmacy services.
“We are thrilled to officially embark on this next chapter of our journey,” said Tops President Ron Ferri. “Adding SMI’s five locations to our existing footprint will not only strengthen our corporate store network and enable us to serve more customers across western New York, but also expand our Tops family.”
In the coming months, the Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops says it will invest over $8 million in renovating the store locations at 5827 S. Transit Road in Lockport, 5175 Broadway in Depew, and 425 Niagara St. in Buffalo. Leadership will then actively pursue future investments and renovations at 1989 Seneca St. in Buffalo, as well as at the Tops Xpress at 470 Aurora St. in Lancaster, the release said.
With the acquisition of the five stores previously operated by SMI, Tops’ store network now includes one remaining franchisee-owned location in Lewiston, N.Y.
Tops Markets operates 152 grocery stores spanning New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, including one franchise location.
Related:
