Tops Markets Sold to Group of Executives

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. — A group of executives at Tops Friendly Markets here has agreed to acquire the chain, the company said last week. Terms were not disclosed.

Tops had been majority owned since 2007 by Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, which bought the chain — then numbering 71 supermarkets, mostly in upstate New York — for $310 million from Ahold USA.

Since then, Tops has grown to 159 stores, largely through the acquisitions of Syracuse, N.Y.-based Penn Traffic and several Grand Union locations.

“With the support of Morgan Stanley Private Equity, and the talent and expertise of Tops’ Western New York-based management team, the company has seen tremendous growth over the past six years and is positioned for future success and long-term growth,” a Tops spokeswoman told SN.

CONNECT WITH SN ON TWITTER

Follow @SN_News for updates throughout the day.

Frank Curci, chief executive officer — who already owned a small stake in the company — and five other executives at the chain are leading the acquisition. The other executives in the buyout group include Kevin Darrington, chief operating officer; Richard Mills, chief financial officer; John Persons, senior vice president of operations; Jack Barrett, senior vice president of human resources; and Lynne Burgess, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary.

The group is buying the stock of the company, and will own all assets and liability, Katie McKenna, the Tops spokeswoman, told SN.

Bank of America is providing financing for the acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of 2013.

Graycliff Partners, a New York-based investment firm, also owns a minority stake in Tops, according to financial filings.

Read more: Dividend Expenses Lead Tops to First-Half Loss

The chain operates 159 stores in upstate New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, and has more than doubled in size in the last six years. It acquired most of Penn Traffic’s 79 locations in 2010, and purchased 21 Grand Union stores in New York and Vermont from C&S Wholesale Grocers in 2012.

The company has estimated annual sales of about $3 billion. It is the No. 1 food retailer in the Buffalo market with 43 stores and a 32.5% market share, according to Metro Market Studies, Tucson, Ariz., and is No. 2 in Syracuse after Wegmans Food Markets.

“It’s business as usual for Tops. The Tops management team will stay focused on achieving our vision for Tops,” McKenna said.

Suggested Categories	More from Supermarketnews
Latest News Top 75 Retailers & Wholesalers Top 50 Small Chains & Independents Top 25 Global Retailers Power 50	SN Photo Galleries Videos Industry Voices SN Viewpoints Total Access Event Coverage