Topco Associates LLC elected Michael D’Amour, president and CEO of Big Y Foods Inc., as board chairman during the cooperative’s Annual Membership Conference.
D’Amour, who previously served as vice chairman, succeeds Steve Smith, president and CEO of K-VA-T Food Stores Inc., whose two-year term as chairman expired following the conference. Smith remains on the board as a director.
“I am truly honored for the opportunity to continue serving on Topco’s board of directors as board chairman,” D’Amour said. “I look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership within the membership as we further drive our shared strategic vision for Topco.”
D’Amour brings deep roots in both the industry and Topco specifically. The grandson of Big Y co-founder Paul D’Amour, he began working in the family’s supermarkets as a teenager before joining full-time in 1996. Big Y has been a Topco member since 1991. D’Amour also served on the operations team for more than 20 years and sits on the board of FMI – The Food Industry Association.
Topco President and CEO Randy Skoda credited Smith’s tenure before welcoming D’Amour’s appointment. “We thank Steve for his stewardship and leadership of Topco’s Board of Directors over the past two years,” Skoda said.
“We look forward to Michael’s oversight of the strategic direction of the Topco board of directors and to advancing the strength, innovation, and collective success of independent grocery retailer and wholesale member-owners.”
Smith’s history with Topco spans nearly three decades. He joined the board in 1999 and previously served as chairman from 2003-07 and 2011-13, and as vice chairman from 2022-24.
Board and Operations Team Composition
Member-owners unanimously approved a slate of directors for two-year terms. The full board now includes: D’Amour (Big Y Foods); Chris Coborn (Coborn’s Inc.); Dan Funk (Associated Wholesale Grocers); Brian George (Alex Lee Inc.); John Persons (Northeast Grocery Inc.); David Rice (Associated Food Stores); Todd Schnuck (Schnuck Markets); Smith (K-VA-T Food Stores); Skoda (Topco Associates); Pete Van Helden (Stater Bros. Markets); and Eric Winn (C&S Wholesale Grocers).
The conference also brought changes to Topco’s operations team. Manard Lagasse, Topco’s EVP and COO, was appointed co-chair alongside Rebecca Calvin, EVP and CMO at Stater Bros. Markets. The team advises on decisions that maximize Topco’s value as a strategic resource for its member-owners.
The full operations team includes: Nick Albrecht (The Fred W. Albrecht Grocery Co.); Tye Anthony (Associated Wholesale Grocers); Randy Arceneaux (Affiliated Foods, Inc.); Calvin (Stater Bros. Markets); Tanya Carlson (Coborn’s Inc.); Michael Cormier (Big Y Foods); Jeff Culhane (Northeast Grocery Inc.); Bob Gleeson (Weis Markets Inc.); Dan Glei (K-VA-T Food Stores); Kim Gray (Schnuck Markets); Tom Hermes (Alex Lee Inc./MDI); Glen Keysaw (Associated Food Stores); Lagasse (Topco Associates); Jerry LeClair (Brookshire Holdings Inc.); and Mark McGowan (C&S Wholesale Grocers).
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