Tops thinking bigger - Business First of Buffalo:

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Those decisions come almost one year after acquiredthe 76-stors chain from , paying $310 million. The expenditurea on store renovations and new locations are all part of a game plan by Tops to strengthen its position asthe region’sz largest supermarket chain. The firstg part of the improvement plans took hold this fall when Tops redide its Olean supermarket from topto bottom. Next up is a majoe face-lift at the South Park Avenue storin Hamburg. Tops CEO Frank Curci estimates the chain will spend $4 million to $5 million on the Hamburg store’z renovation, which should be completed within the first quartef of 2009.
Store improvement projects will take placr during the nextfive years, accordinhg to Curci. He said 60 Tops storex have been identified for renovations ranging fromminodr spruce-ups to multimillion- dollar renovations, similar to what took plac in Olean and is in the offing for New stores, meanwhile, likely will be constructecd in Buffalo, Rochester and some areas out to the middlre of New York state. “We’re not goingf beyond (Route) 81,” Curci “The stores will be pretty evenly split betwee n thethree cities.” He said the nationao recession has actually helped – not hurt Tops.
When people travel less and eat outless frequently, that translate s into major food shopping expeditions. Customersw are looking for bargains but often opt to buy specialtuy itemsand private-label foods instead of national brands. Private-label sales at Tops increasedd by 5 percent inrecentg months. Conversely, traditional “impulse” items such as flowers droppede off inrecent months.