Tops to Host Mock Produce ‘Olympics’

With the Summer Olympics just weeks away, associates at Tops Friendly Markets are gearing up for their own games—with a plant-based twist. Over the course of the next seven weeks, associates across Tops’ three state imprint (New York, Vermont and Pennsylvania) will be challenging one another to a produce-themed Olympic competition to see who will bring home the gold for best fruit and vegetable display.

“With the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics just around the corner we felt this was a great opportunity to encourage a little healthy competition among our store teams,” said Jeff Cady, director of produce and floral for Tops, in a statement. “During the summer months especially, we know that consumers are naturally thinking about fruits and vegetables. This challenge encourages our associates to remind the community of the importance of getting their five recommended daily servings in a fun and engaging way and maybe even try something new.”

Over the course of the Tops Produce Olympics, store teams will compete in categories such as Soft Fruit Surfing, Boxing with Berries, Watermelon Wrestling, Avocado and Mango Marathon, Weightlifting Washington Cherries, and California Grape Gymnastics.

Teams will earn points for creativity of their produce displays as well as their ability to increase consumer awareness about the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables. While walking away with the gold is a Tops honor, medals will also be awarded for bronze and silver and regional awards will be presented as well, the company said.

Tops' Winter Produce Games

While Tops says that 2020’s postponed summer games have meant it hasn’t held a summer Olympics produce promotion in some time, its Winter Olympics produce promotions had its team associates going for gold with displays of Wonderful Halos (pictured above) and Chilean fruit.

Tops Markets is based in Williamsville, N.Y., and operates 157 full-service supermarkets with five additional franchise stores.