New CEO to start soon at Tops, Price Chopper parent company

Prior CEO, Curci, is retiring

SCHENECTADY — The CEO of Northeast Grocery, Inc. (NGI), the parent company of Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Friendly Markets is getting set to retire and NGI is ready to move forward with a new top executive. NGI’s board of directors on Jan. 22 announced the upcoming retirement of CEO Frank Curci, along with its selection of John Persons, NGI’s COO, as Curci’s successor. Persons, who NGI describes as a 40-year industry veteran, will assume the role of CEO, effective Feb. 26.  He has served as NGI’s COO since June 2023, overseeing both the Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets operating companies, as well as Northeast Shared Services’ merchandising and marketing functions. The overall announcement is “part of the company’s strategic succession plan,” and the board selected Persons “following an internal and external search,” NGI said.

“The 43 years I have spent in this business have been challenging and rewarding beyond measure and, without a doubt, the recent years spent planning and then bringing NGI to life have been some of the most gratifying,” Curci said in a news release. “I’m delighted that John has been chosen to succeed me. He has been instrumental in our merger success to date, providing the necessary leadership over these past few years to position NGI for success. While John’s strategic mindset is poised to lead our multifaceted business day to day, he also possesses great vision for our path forward.”  NGI says one of Curci’s accomplishments as NGI’s CEO has been to develop a team of seasoned executives across Tops, Price Chopper/Market 32, and Northeast Shared Services (a subsidiary of NGI providing services to both operating companies). That team is “capable of providing experienced leadership and fueling” the internal succession plan. That plan ultimately led to the selection of Persons to succeed Curci, NGI said. “I am thrilled to lead NGI forward in collaboration with the talented teammates and associates at Northeast Shared Services, Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops who are dedicated to nourishing the communities we serve,” Persons said in the release. “On behalf of all 30,000 of us, I’d like to express gratitude to Frank Curci for his leadership and mentorship over the years and reiterate my commitment to build on the momentum and success that he has fostered.” Persons started as a cashier at Tops and rose to the office of the president. He has spent his entire career with the Williamsville–based grocery chain and now NGI. During his tenure at Tops, he had oversight for various functions, including operations, merchandising, sales and marketing, real estate, information technology, and organizational strategy, all leading to his appointment as president in 2015, NGI said.