Parent company of Price Chopper, Tops names new CEO
Northeast Grocery Inc. (NGI) has tapped a company veteran as its new chief executive.
The parent company of Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Friendly Markets said that CEO Frank Curci will retire as part of the grocer's succession plan. He will be succeeded by NGI’s COO, John Persons, effective Feb. 26, who will also join the board.
Curci took the reins of NGI in February 2022, following the late 2021 merger of Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets in 2021, which nearly doubled the two Northeast grocers' collective footprints, with a combined total of nearly 300 stores. (The merger also resulted in the birth of a new parent company, NGI.) He had previously served as CEO of Tops and, before that, held various executive posts at multiple grocery retailers.
“The 43 years I have spent in this business have been challenging and rewarding beyond measure and, without a doubt, the recent years spent planning and then bringing NGI to life have been some of the most gratifying,” stated Curci. “I'm delighted that John has been chosen to succeed me. He has been instrumental in our merger success to date, providing the necessary leadership over these past few years to position NGI for success.”
Persons
A 40-year industry veteran who started as a cashier at Tops and rose to the office of the president, Persons has spent his entire career with the Williamsville-based grocery chain and now NGI. He has served as COO of NGI since June 2023, overseeing both the Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets operating companies, as well as Northeast Shared Services' merchandising and marketing functions.
"I am thrilled to lead NGI forward in collaboration with the talented teammates and associates at Northeast Shared Services, Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops who are dedicated to nourishing the communities we serve," said Persons. "On behalf of all 30,000 of us, I'd like to express gratitude to Frank Curci for his leadership and mentorship over the years and reiterate my commitment to build on the momentum and success that he has fostered."
Headquartered in Schenectady, NY, Northeast Grocery (NGI) is the parent company of Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Friendly Markets, which operate nearly 300 supermarkets across New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire and employ more than 30,000 associates/teammates.