Tops Markets
Tops Markets is a regional full-service grocery retailer operating 151 stores across New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont under Northeast Grocery Inc., serving household consumers with grocery, pharmacy, fuel, catering, and digital delivery through 14,000+ associates.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1962
- HeadquartersBuffalo, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Tops Markets does
Tops Markets is a full-service regional grocery retailer operating 151 stores across New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont under the Tops Friendly Markets banner, organized as a subsidiary of Northeast Grocery Inc. (formed in November 2021 via the merger of Tops Markets and Price Chopper/Market 32). Founded in 1962 from earlier Castellani and DiMino family grocery operations dating to the 1920s, the company employs over 14,000 associates and offers a multi-format retail platform that combines grocery, in-store and specialty pharmacy (accepting 3,000+ insurance plans), 58 fuel stations (including EV charging at six locations), catering, and a portfolio of 8,700+ private label products under brands such as TOPS, Full Circle, TopCare, Tippy Toes, and Paws.
The technology stack is built around the Tops Mobile App (iOS and Android), which integrates store navigation, digital coupons (eCoupons), the SHOP+SCAN scan-as-you-shop feature, prescription refills, and the BonusPlus loyalty program with GasPoints fuel rewards. E-commerce and delivery are operated through partnerships with Instacart (Storefront Pro-powered storefront launched October 2025) and DoorDash (delivery including the new April 2026 SNAP/EBT integration), with additional integrations including FoodStorm for catering, Appointment-Plus for pharmacy immunization scheduling, Flashfood for discounted near-expiry food, ecoATM Gazelle for device recycling, and RangeMe for vendor sourcing. On the operations side, Tops has deployed Cenobot autonomous floor-cleaning robots using adaptive AI and sensor-based navigation across multiple Western New York locations.
Tops' business model is transaction-based and multi-stream: grocery retail is the core revenue driver, supplemented by pharmacy, fuel, catering, organizational charge accounts (Business Plus), gift card sales, and digital delivery commissions. The go-to-market is omnichannel, combining physical retail dominance in Western and Central New York with a regional digital layer. Customers are segmented into individual household consumers (primary), SNAP/EBT recipients (newly enabled online), business and organizational accounts, and pharmacy patients, with marketing and community programs (Tops in Education, Cash for Causes, Neighbors Helping Neighbors) functioning as retention and brand-equity mechanisms rather than revenue lines.
Tops Markets firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tops Markets
- Legal name
- Tops Markets LLC
- Website
- https://topsmarkets.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1962
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Tops Markets is a regional full-service grocery retailer operating 151 stores across New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont under Northeast Grocery Inc., serving household consumers with grocery, pharmacy, fuel, catering, and digital delivery through 14,000+ associates.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tops Markets industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Supermarket Retail
- NAICS
- Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (44511), Health and Personal Care Retailers (456), Food and Beverage Retailers (445)
- SIC
- Retail-Grocery Stores (5411), Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Full-Line Supermarkets (National/Regional Chains) (CRAHAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Online Grocery Retailers (Inventory-led) (CRAFAFAE)
Keywords
Where Tops Markets is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buffalo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tops Markets business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Grocery Retail Sales: Core revenue stream from grocery sales across 151 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Includes national brands, private label products (TOPS Brand, Full Circle, TopCare, Tippy Toes, Crav'n Flavor, Simply Done, That's Smart, Paws, Pure Harmony, Wide Awake), and fresh departments.
- Pharmacy Services: Prescription fulfillment, immunizations, specialty pharmacy, pet prescriptions, and health/beauty products. Accepts over 3,000 insurance plans.
- Fuel Station Operations: 58 fuel stations offering gasoline with GasPoints loyalty rewards, EV charging stations, and contactless payment technology.
- Grocery Delivery Partnerships: Revenue from delivery orders processed through DoorDash and Instacart partnerships, including SNAP/EBT online purchasing capability.
- Business Plus Organizational Accounts: Charge card accounts for businesses, churches, schools, and organizations with no interest or annual fees, daily purchase limit of $1,500 per card.
- Gift Card Sales: Digital and physical gift cards, corporate bulk orders, and fundraising cards sold at 5% discount to 501(c)(3) organizations through Cash for Causes program.
- Catering and Takeout: Catering services for events including breakfast, appetizers, deli trays, party trays, cakes, desserts, and prepared foods with 24-hour advance ordering.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Business Plus organizational accounts with daily limit of $1,500 per card |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Tops Markets product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tops Markets operates a regional full-service grocery retail chain with 151 stores across New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. The company sells national brand and private label groceries, operates in-store pharmacies (including specialty pharmacy), and runs 58 co-located fuel stations. It supplements its physical storefronts with a digital ecosystem consisting of a proprietary mobile app, e-commerce pickup/delivery (powered by Instacart and DoorDash), the BonusPlus loyalty program, and the SHOP+SCAN self-scanning feature.
Product overview
Tops Markets is a regional grocery retailer operating a network of 151 stores across New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont under the Northeast Grocery Inc. parent company. The offering is a unified physical-digital retail platform combining in-store grocery shopping with a comprehensive suite of digital services. Core offerings include full-service grocery retail, pharmacy (including specialty pharmacy), and fuel stations. Digital services are delivered through the Tops Mobile App and online shopping portal (powered by Instacart and DoorDash), integrated with the BonusPlus loyalty program, Coupon Central digital coupons, GasPoints fuel rewards, Tops SHOP+SCAN self-scanning, Tops Catering powered by FoodStorm, and Flashfood discounted near-expiry food marketplace. Additional services include Tops Business Plus organizational accounts, Cash for Causes and Tops in Education fundraising programs, specialty pharmacy programs, and sustainability initiatives such as the Fresh Recovery Program and EV charging stations. The company also offers a portfolio of 8,700+ private label products under brands including TOPS Brand, Full Circle, TopCare, Tippy Toes, Crav'n Flavor, Simply Done, That's Smart, Paws, Pure Harmony, and Wide Awake.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BonusPlus: Loyalty program offering digital coupons, gas points savings, and rewards for customers.
- Tops in Education
- Cash for Causes
- Neighbors Helping Neighbors
- Tops Business Plus
- SHOP+SCAN
Products and services
- Tops Grocery Pickup & Delivery In-store and online grocery shopping with same-day pickup and delivery options powered by Instacart and DoorDash, allowing customers to browse weekly ads, clip digital coupons, and receive groceries at home or ready for pickup.
- Tops Pharmacy
- Tops Specialty Pharmacy Program Specialty pharmacy service for patients with chronic and complex conditions (psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, oncology, organ transplantation), providing clinical, financial, and emotional support.
- Tops BonusPlus Loyalty Program Free loyalty program offering digital coupons, GasPoints fuel savings, double manufacturer coupon policies (up to $0.99), and personalized offers. Customers link their BonusPlus card to earn rewards and access eCoupons through the mobile app.
- Tops Gift Cards Physical and digital gift cards for Tops Markets available in-store and online. Gift card purchases earn GasPoints. Corporate bulk ordering is available for businesses, charities, and organizations with a 5% discount on orders of $1,000 or more.
- Tops Catering & Great Entertaining Catering service offering party trays, deli platters, prepared meals, and custom food orders for events. Powered by FoodStorm platform with 24-hour advance ordering for in-store pickup at the Carry Out Café.
- Tops Business Plus Organizational charge card and purchasing program for businesses, churches, schools, and nonprofits. Features include tax-exempt recognition at checkout, monthly transaction statements, combined loyalty rewards, and multi-card management with no interest or annual fees.
- Cash for Causes Fundraising program for registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Participating groups purchase Tops gift cards at a 5% discount and resell at face value to supporters, who use them for groceries.
- Tops in Education School fundraising program where registered K-12 schools receive up to 5% of purchases of participating Tops brand products when supporters link their BonusPlus cards. Tops has donated over $2 million to local schools through this initiative.
- Tops Own Brands (Private Label) Portfolio of Tops private label brands spanning approximately 8,700 products, including TOPS Brand (core grocery), Full Circle (natural/organic), TopCare (health and beauty), Tippy Toes (baby), Crav'n Flavor (prepared foods), Simply Done (everyday value), That's Smart (budget), Paws (pet), Pure Harmony (wellness), and Wide Awake (beverages).
- Tops Mobile App Full-featured mobile application enabling store selection, weekly ad browsing, aisle directory navigation, contactless pickup/delivery ordering, digital coupon clipping, prescription refills, recipe access, and BonusPlus card management. Available on iOS and Android.
- Fresh Recovery Program Food waste reduction and hunger relief initiative expanded at 130 Tops locations across New York State. The program rescues and redistributes surplus fresh produce and perishable items to local food banks, food pantries, and community organizations. Over 1.6 million pounds of food has been recovered.
- Tops Fuel Stations 58 fuel stations co-located with store locations offering gasoline with GasPoints rewards, EV charging at 6 locations, and contactless payment technology.
Quantifiable outcome
- 67+ million meals donated to local communities
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Tops Markets
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Tops Markets technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
Tops Markets partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DoorDashcoreTops partnered with DoorDash to allow SNAP/EBT benefits for online grocery delivery, launching April 9, 2026. The partnership expands food access for low-income customers by removing transportation and mobility barriers to in-store shopping. Tops plans to potentially integrate SNAP/EBT payments into its own e-commerce platform in the future.
- InstacartcoreNortheast Grocery Inc. (parent company) launched redesigned websites and mobile apps powered by Instacart's Storefront Pro to improve customer digital shopping experiences across Market 32, Price Chopper, and Tops Markets banners. Upgrades include enhanced navigation, new payment options, and refreshed apps.
- ecoATM GazelleminorPartnership to help reduce e-waste by enabling shoppers to recycle and earn cash for mobile devices. In 2025, Tops helped keep nearly 14,000 phones (5,800 lbs. of electronics) from piling up in landfills.
- North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC)minorTops joined NASRC in 2023 to enhance commitment to green initiatives and collaborate with other businesses on environmental solutions including transitioning to more environmentally favorable refrigerants.
- FlashfoodcoreFlashfood app-based marketplace connects consumers with discounted food nearing best-by date. Available in 70+ Tops locations, shoppers can save up to 60% off items. To date, Flashfood has diverted over 50 million pounds of food and saved shoppers over $3.7 million.
- Food Bank of Central PA, Food Bank of CNY, Food Bank of NE NY, Food Bank of NW PA, Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, Food Bank of the Southern Tier, FeedMore WNY, Foodlink, Vermont Food BankcoreTops has worked with community partners to donate more than 67 million meals through multiple food bank organizations across their footprint, supporting hunger relief efforts.
- TrexminorTrex processes plastic shopping bags and stretch film recycled by Tops (nearly 1,165 tons annually) combined with sawdust to make Trex decking, railing, and trimming products.
- Rainforest AllianceminorPartnership to provide Sunshine Bouquets from certified farmers using more sustainable farming methods that protect forests and biodiversity, improve livelihoods, promote human rights, and help communities adapt to climate crisis.
- 500+ Local Produce and Dairy FarmerscoreLocal farms supply fresh produce and dairy products. Tops sources from farms 45-75 miles away, 52 weeks a year, supporting local economy and reducing food miles. More than 300 other local companies also supply thousands of items.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tops Markets competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Price Chopper / Market 32: Sister banner under Northeast Grocery Inc., operating grocery stores in NY and the Northeast. Direct comparison: same parent, overlapping footprint, shared private label and supply chain, making it the most direct operational and financial comparable.
- Wegmans Food Markets: Family-owned regional supermarket chain concentrated in NY, PA, and surrounding states. Direct comparison: comparable upscale regional supermarket format, overlapping store footprint in Rochester/Buffalo and PA, similar pharmacy and prepared-foods mix.
- Hannaford: Ahold Delhaize-owned supermarket chain operating across NY, MA, VT, NH, and ME. Direct comparison: directly competes with Tops in New York's Capital District, Vermont, and upstate markets with similar format, pharmacy, and private label programs.
- ShopRite: Cooperative supermarket banner with strong presence in NY, NJ, PA, and CT. Direct comparison: similar full-service supermarket format, comparable private label strategy, and direct store-level competition in NY and PA markets.
- Giant Food Stores: Ahold Delhaize-owned regional supermarket chain operating in PA, MD, VA, and WV. Direct comparison: full-service regional supermarket, in-store pharmacy, private label portfolio, and overlap with Tops' Pennsylvania store footprint.
- Weis Markets: Regional supermarket chain operating across PA, NY, MD, NJ, VA, and WV. Direct comparison: comparable mid-Atlantic regional grocery format, in-store pharmacy, and direct overlap with Tops' PA and southern NY stores.
Broad incumbents
- Publix Super Markets: Employee-owned regional supermarket chain operating across the Southeast US. Broad incumbent comparison: similar regional full-service supermarket operating model, in-store pharmacy, and strong private label execution, though no direct geographic overlap with Tops.
- Kroger: Largest pure-play US grocery operator with 2,700+ stores nationally. Broad incumbent comparison: provides scale benchmark for procurement, private label, pharmacy, and digital infrastructure that Tops competes against indirectly in the Northeast.
- Walmart Supercenter: Largest US food retailer by revenue operating supercenters across all 50 states. Broad incumbent comparison: dominant price competitor in the Northeast grocery market that pressures Tops' national-brand pricing and trip frequency.
- ALDI: Hard-discount grocery chain rapidly expanding in the US Northeast. Broad incumbent comparison: pressures Tops on price in private label-heavy categories and increasingly competes for the same budget-conscious shoppers in NY and PA.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tops Markets social profiles
Digital presenceTops Markets financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tops Markets leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Tops Markets funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tops Markets M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tops Markets
What does Tops Markets do?
Tops Markets operates a regional full-service grocery retail chain with 151 stores across New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. The company sells national brand and private label groceries, operates in-store pharmacies (including specialty pharmacy), and runs 58 co-located fuel stations. It supplements its physical storefronts with a digital ecosystem consisting of a proprietary mobile app, e-commerce pickup/delivery (powered by Instacart and DoorDash), the BonusPlus loyalty program, and the SHOP+SCAN self-scanning feature.
Is Tops Markets a public or private company?
Tops Markets is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Tops Markets founded?
Tops Markets was founded in 1962. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Tops Markets based?
Tops Markets is headquartered in Buffalo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tops Markets make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Grocery Retail Sales are the primary driver. The others are pharmacy Services, fuel Station Operations, grocery Delivery Partnerships, business Plus Organizational Accounts, gift Card Sales and catering and Takeout.
Who are Tops Markets's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Price Chopper / Market 32, Wegmans Food Markets, Hannaford, ShopRite, Giant Food Stores and Weis Markets. Broad incumbents are Publix Super Markets, Kroger, Walmart Supercenter and ALDI.
Does Tops Markets have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tops Markets.
What industry is Tops Markets in?
Tops Markets's product category is Supermarket Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAAAA, Full-Line Supermarkets (National/Regional Chains), with a secondary code of CRAFAFAE, Online Grocery Retailers (Inventory-led). Its NAICS code is 44511 and its SIC code is 5411.