SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Northeast Grocery Inc., the parent company of Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets, announced Wednesday the upcoming retirement of CEO Scott Grimmett and named former Tops Markets Chairman and CEO Frank Curci to that position. Grimmett's retirement will be effective in February.

 

"Working at Price Chopper/Market 32 and helping to lead the organization through this merger has been the opportunity of a lifetime. I want to thank all of the teammates and associates at Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops who have worked so hard to serve our customers, especially during these difficult times. I also want to thank the Golub family for trusting me to shepherd this exceptional company into the next phase of its near century of industry leadership," said Grimmett.

 

Grimmett is concluding a 48-year career in the retail grocery industry. After 10 years at Price Chopper/Market 32, several of them spent working on the merger between Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets and then putting in place the people and processes to ensure the new company's success during its first year, Grimmett recently informed the NGI board that he felt this was the right time for him to retire to spend more time with his family in Arizona and turn over leadership of the company. Grimmett will be working with Curci to ensure a smooth leadership transition and provide consulting going forward in support of the merger integration process.

 

"We have been extraordinarily fortunate to have Scott Grimmett lead us through the merger process and develop the strategies and plans to move the company forward," said NGI board co-Chair Jerry Golub. "First at Price Chopper/Market 32 and most recently at NGI, Scott has shown exceptional leadership qualities and vision. We wish him the best as he retires."

 

Golub said the NGI board is enthusiastic about Curci's appointment as CEO. His 40-year career has included a diverse set of C-Suite leadership positions with multiple retail grocery organizations. Among other valued experiences, Curci spent 14 years as the CEO of Tops, building the organization from the ground up after it separated away from Ahold. He also led strategic initiatives that grew the Tops business such as the acquisitions of 79 Penn Traffic stores in 2010 and 21 Grand Union stores in 2012. 

 

Curci is expected to continue NGI's success by enhancing customer experience as well as open the door for more opportunities for all employees.

 

As a member of the NGI board, Curci worked together with Grimmett during the merger process and is familiar with the plans in place to move the company forward. 

 

"I'm excited about the future of this company and implementing the plans Scott and I have put in place," said Curci. "With our now-combined footprint of nearly 300 stores, we are better positioned to leverage increased value for customers; advance shared opportunities for innovation; and fortify the depth of our expanded workforce, community, and trade partnerships, making us stronger and more competitive."

 

NGI's headquarters remain in Schenectady and Curci will work from those offices. There are no other executive leadership changes. As previously announced, Blaine Bringhurst is president of the Price Chopper/Market 32 business and John Persons is president of the Tops Markets business. Dave Langless, formerly the chief financial officer of Tops, is NGI's chief financial officer.