History of TOPS

Now among the leading grocery retailers in the United States, TOPS Markets can trace its roots to a simple family store in Niagara Falls, NY in the 1920’s. What started as a small association of franchised stores grew into a regional leader, and eventually became part of one of the world's leading retailers, while remaining an integral part of the fabric of the community in which it all began.

TOPS Markets
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

1920s

• Ferrante Castellani opens a small neighborhood grocery store

1951

• Ferrante's son, Armand, sets out on his own and opens the Great Bear Market in Niagara Falls. Shortly thereafter, he partners with Thomas Buscaglia, a grocery equipment salesman, to form the T.A. Buscaglia Equipment Co.
• Later in the 1950’s, Castellani and Buscaglia enter into a cooperative agreement with other small stores to build the foundation of what was to become the TOPS Markets chain.

  1960

• First modern supermarket opens - a 25,000 sq. foot store on Portage Road in Niagara Falls
  
• The company changes its name to Niagara Frontier Services (NFS)

1962

• TOPS Markets chain is born as franchise systems are established for supermarkets. A system for smaller stores is established under the B-Kwik name

1967

• Thomas Buscaglia passes away

1969

• The first Wilson Farms Neighborhood Food Store opens in Tonawanda, NY
  
  

  1984

• TOPS introduces Western New York shoppers to direct debit service, Instabank ATMs and the first CarryOut Café

  1991

• On March 27th, TOPS is acquired by Ahold, a major international food retailer based in the Netherlands
• The first TOPS International Super Center opens in Amherst, NY. At that time, the 112,000 square foot store was the largest in Western New York, and boasted the biggest in-store bakery in the entire U.S.

  1994

• TOPS builds a new headquarters in Williamsville, NY
  
  

  1996

• TOPS merges with Northeast Ohio-based Finast stores.
• State-of-the-art, 848,000 square foot distribution center opens in Lancaster, NY

  1999

• TOPS’ BonusCard debuts.

  2000

• TOPS acquires the Sugarcreek Stores chain, adding 87 stores to its Wilson Farms division
• The first TOPS fueling station premiers in Akron, OH

  2001

• TOPS acquires 22 former Grand Union stores in the Adirondack region and in Central New York
• TOPS Xpress convenience store format debuts
• TOPS enters into a shared services arrangement with GIANT Food Stores, LLC, headquartered in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.



2002

• Armand Castellani passes away at age 84
• TOPS celebrates 40th anniversary
• Warehouse operations sold to C&S Wholesale Grocers
• TOPS Markets Foundation is launched
  
  

2003

• Shared services evolves to the extent where TOPS Markets is fully integrated into the GIANT Food Stores organization

2004

• First MARTIN’S Super Food Store opens in Perinton, New York

2005

• Four former TOPS Markets are converted to MARTIN’S Super Food Stores; two are completely replaced and two undergo a major remodel
• TOPS redefines market area in New York and divests of 31 smaller stores in mid-state New York and the Adirondacks
• The division restructures and announces the divestiture of 9 older and underperforming stores in Northeast Ohio

2006

• TOPS is poised to strengthen market share in western New York and Northeast Ohio
• "TOPS Never Stops" advertising campaign and memorable jingle are reintroduced
• Comprehensive plans to remodel stores and upgrade customer-friendly technology are announced
• TOPS continues strong commitment to the communities it serves through its "Living Here. Giving Here." campaign to support local organizations through corporate and store-level donations