Topco Associates recently held its Annual Membership Conference, during which several members were honored for sales and volume growth across its programs in 2025, with select organizations receiving additional recognition for exemplary performance.
“The membership achieved a record year of growth – driven not only by the outstanding performances in pharmacy, center store, fresh and indirect spend but also by meaningful progress across key initiatives throughout the business,” said Randy Skoda, Topco president and CEO.
“This momentum is a testament to the power of partnership. There is no shortage of excellence across the membership, and we are proud to recognize and celebrate the organizations whose participation, commitment and collaborative spirit continue to elevate us all.”
Chairman’s Circle Award
In just the second year of the award, five full member-owners were recognized for exceeding $1 billion in purchases through Topco in 2025. They included Associated Food Stores Inc., K-VA-T Food Stores, SpartanNash, Stater Bros. Markets and Weis Markets.
Growth awards
- Associated Food Stores Inc. – Overall Highest Purchase Volume: Associated Food Stores achieved sales growth across all programs in 2025. In addition, AFS participates in several member advisory and steering committees of Topco, while also holding seats on the board of directors and operations team. A member since 2012, AFS continues to support key initiatives and carries full commitment across center store, fresh, indirect spend and pharmacy.
- K-VA-T Food Stores Inc. – Total Penetration: A member for more than 30 years, K-VA-T Food Stores Inc. received this award by growing its penetration and maintaining commitment in all Topco programs. K-VA-T’s performance included sales increases in center store, fresh and value add, with substantial participation in Topco brands Food Club, Simply Done, Full Circle Market, Crav’n Flavor, TopCare and Basket & Bushel brands.
- Affiliated Foods Inc. – Greatest Dollar Growth, Total Program: Affiliated Foods Inc. achieved sales growth across all programs, guided by fresh beef and committed segments within the indirect spend program.
- URM Stores Inc. – Greatest Percentage Growth, Total Program: URM Stores Inc. saw growth across all programs, led by committed segment growth in the indirect spend program, along with purchases in beef primals.
- Schnuck Markets Inc. – Greatest Dollar Growth, Center Store: Schnuck Markets, Inc. demonstrated substantial growth in Center Store, achieving the greatest dollar growth in 2025. This was attributed to incremental sales across all Center Store programs, including Schnuck’s own brand, Simply Done, Crav’n Flavor and Full Circle Market.
- Northeast Grocery, Tops Markets – Greatest Percentage Growth, Center Store: Driven by incremental volume from Tops Markets’ own brand, Crav’n Flavor, Paws Happy Life and Pure Harmony, the grocer achieved the highest percentage growth in the center store program.
- Brookshire Grocery Co. – Greatest Dollar Growth, Fresh: Increased participation and category growth within produce and fresh meat led Brookshire Grocery Company to earn the award for greatest dollar growth in Fresh.
- Big Y Foods – Greatest Percentage Growth, Fresh: Big Y Foods saw an impressive increase in 2025 due to growth in fresh meat across fresh chicken, hams and beef, as well as sales growth in seafood – driven by shrimp, lobster and snow crab – which resulted in the honor.
- Alex Lee – Greatest Dollar Growth, Value-Add: Alex Lee Inc. grew its value-add dollar purchases in 2025 by engaging broadly across value-added programs. The grocer’s focus succeeded, providing savings on sourcing events.
- Northeast Grocery, Price Chopper/Market 32 – Greatest Percentage Growth, Value-Add: Price Chopper/Market 32 achieved the value-add greatest percentage growth award as a result of an impressive increase within the indirect spend and pharmacy programs.
Milestone anniversaries
Topco also recognized the following companies celebrating milestone membership anniversaries:
- 70 years: Piggly Wiggly Midwest
- 35 years: Big Y Foods
- 20 years: Centro Cuesta Nacional C. por A.; Larroc Inc.; Price Chopper/Market 32; Roche Bros. Supermarkets
- 10 years: Affiliated Foods Inc.; Associated Grocers of New England (AGNE); Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co. (PWADC); URM Stores Inc.
Topco Associates is a privately held, member-owned company that provides aggregation, innovation and knowledge management solutions for its food industry member-owners and customers, including grocery retailers, wholesalers, foodservice and pharmacy companies.
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