Progressive Grocer - June/July 2009 - (Page 72)

Fresh Food Brimming With Possibilities Many progressive grocers — Tops Friendly Markets among them — are primed to help shoppers enjoy and support the fruits (and vegetables) of local farmers’ labors at the outset of a particularly promising summer selling season. company since being acquired by undoubtedly enhance our customers’ Morgan Stanley Private Equity, which shopping experience,” affirms Curran. returned management and operations To that end, Qureshi will spearhead to local hands in December 2007. one of Tops’ foremost goals during the Among the newest slate of tal- 2009 growing season, aimed at ented locals to return to the fold is enhancing last year’s successful local Sam Qureshi, who recently came merchandising strategy with “an even aboard the 71-store company — greater focus on the continued expanwhich operates full-service sion of homegrown conventional supermarkets fresh produce items in western and central New from New York, York, including Rochester Pennsylvania and and northwestern PennsylOntario. [W]e will vania — as its new director be making all deciof produce and floral marsions locally.” keting. Qureshi is more Patrick Curran, Tops’ than up to the chalSVP of sales and marketing, lenge. “Throughout Sam Qureshi is Tops’ says Qureshi’s newly created new director of produce the year, we have management post under- and floral marketing. taken many imporscores the regional retailer’s tant steps to reach revitalized commitment to tapping that goal, such as increased inspections its local roots for all their worth. and expanding our partnership with “Having Sam here, overseeing these local farmers. We have also completed vital departments and making critical the formation of a highly motivated buying decisions on product assort- team of category merchandisers, buyment, pricing and presentation, will ers and field specialists.” www.progressivegrocer.com By Meg Major owhere does summer’s splendor reign more supreme than in the produce department, where the natural beauty of seasonal fruits and vegetables presents countless possibilities for front-line teams to attract shoppers like moths to a flame. Without a doubt, peak-season fruits and vegetables perennially provide grocers with ample cause for celebration, but promoting the produce category’s stalwart summertime mainstays — along with some fresh new additions — should prove to be an especially exciting period for grocers during the course of an economic cycle that’s clearly given rise to changes in the way Americans eat. And that’s precisely what’s high on the minds of an ambitious and resolute new team of merchants at the helm of Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops Friendly Markets, whose central focus has been to reposition itself as a locally operated and managed N Tops has implemented an aggressive capital improvement plan that includes major store renovations to enhance and increase the variety of its fresh produce offering. 72 • Progressive Grocer • June/July 2009 A H E A D O F W H AT ’ S N E X T http://www.progressivegrocer.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Progressive Grocer - June/July 2009

Progressive Grocer - June/July 2009
Table of Contents
Nielsen’s Shelf Stoppers/ Spotlight: Cheese/Shredded Cheese
Market Snapshot: Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, Calif.
Independents Report: The Advantages of Older Associates
Lempert Report: Food Experts Tackle the Economy
Industry Achievement: The Top 100 Women in Grocery
Multicultural Marketing: 2050 is Today
Retailer of the Year: Celebrating Kroger
2009 Deli/Bakery Operations Review: Shrink-Wrapped
Fresh Developments: Consumer Shifts Create New Complexities for Fresh Food Trading Partners
Produce: Brimming With Possibilities
Meat: Fired Up!
Store of the Month: Giant Eagle’s Express-Ohhh!
Cheese: Cooked Cheese and Other Spiritual Revelations
Beverage Alcohol: A Cup of Cheer
Frozen Foods: Frozen Vegetable Sales are Steaming
Real Estate: Bigger is not Always Better
Technology: At Your Service
Equipment Innovations
What’s Next: Editors’ Picks for Innovative Products

Progressive Grocer - June/July 2009