Williamsville is located near Buffalo, and Tops is the largest private, for-profit employer in western New York, with more than 14,000 associates. Tops Market was founded in 1962 and has 162 stores in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, including five run by franchisees. Of those outlets, 29 operate under the company’s Market 32 brand. Price Chopper/Market 32, founded in 1932, operates 131 stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont and has 18,000 employees. “We will continue to convert Price Choppers and Market 32s over time, but Price Choppers and Market 32s will remain Price Choppers and Market 32s,” Golub said. The two companies also would continue to operate independently under their current brand names. Although there is regulatory process that will dictate any changes that will be made, that perfectly contiguous footprint means that we expect minimal impact.” “One of the beauties of this transaction is the fact that our footprints are almost perfectly contiguous,” Golub said. It also operates stores in Bennington, Brattleboro and Manchester, Vt., and has an outlet in Hoosick Falls, N.Y. Price Chopper operates Market 32 stores in Lenox and Pittsfield, and a Price Chopper store in Great Barrington. The merger would not affect operations at any of Price Chopper/Market 32’s stores in Berkshire County or southern Vermont, according to company spokesperson Mona Golub. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the coming months, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. “This merger marks a major step forward and collectively elevates our ability to compete on every level,” said Price Chopper/Market 32 President and CEO Scott Grimmett, who would serve as CEO of the new parent company.

Chopper Plans