Former Penn Traffic Stores to Take Tops Name

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Saying that shoppers were “ready for a fresh start,” Tops Markets will rebrand the P&C Foods and Quality Markets stores it acquired under the Tops Friendly Markets name, the company said Friday.

Tops, based here, acquired 79 former Penn Traffic stores in a January bankruptcy auction but since sold or closed 24 of them. The remaining stores will undergo transformation to the Tops brand through the remainder of the year.

“Before we made the decision to change the stores’ banners to Tops Markets, we conducted research in our new markets and found a higher degree of favorability toward the Tops brand name,” Diane Colgan, Tops’ vice president of sales development and marketing, said in a statement. “It was very important for us to understand how much value the existing brand had in these communities before we made changes. We found that these customers are ready for a fresh start, and are eager to see what Tops has to offer.”

The transformations will account for around half of a previously announced two-year, $90 million capital improvement plan, Tops said. The focus will be on new interior and exterior signage, new decor, food cases, restroom renovations and in some stores, new storefronts, flooring and lighting. All stores will be made as energy efficient as possible.

Tops will also be introducing the popular Tim Hortons self-serve kiosks in all of these locations and introducing Tops’ private-label items to store shelves.

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