News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DATE:
 February 19, 2003
CONTACT: Stefanie Zakowicz
716 635 5885

   
TOPS FRIENDLY MARKETS OPENS STORE IN CANANDAIGUA, NY
First Tops to Feature Charter One In-Store Bank

Williamsville, NY … Tops Friendly Markets opened the doors of a brand new 57,000 square foot store at 9:00 a.m. today. The store, which is located at 5150 North Street at Route 332 in Canandaigua, NY, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The new Canandaigua Tops features such conveniences as an in-store Pharmacy, a CarryOut Café and U-Scan self-checkouts to provide convenient, one-stop shopping for today’s time-starved customers. It is also the first Tops to have a Charter One In-Store Bank.

Upon entering the store, customers can quickly take advantage of Walter’s Garden fresh produce department and the Wall of Values, featuring items from the current ad. The Canandaigua store is complete with a Captain’s Choice full-service seafood department, and Butcher’s Block full-service meat department.

Other key departments in the Canandaigua store include a Baker’s Oven bakery, a Petal Works fresh floral department, and a Relax, Renew, Revive health and beauty department. The store’s grocery and dairy/frozen departments boast a wide array of top national brands and high-quality private label products as well as a large selection of natural and organic foods.

“We’re very excited to be opening this store,” said Frank Curci, Tops’ president and CEO. “Our new friends and neighbors in Canandaigua have given us a warm reception, and we welcome the opportunities both to meet their shopping needs as well as to become an integral part of the community.”

Canandaigua Town Supervisor Sam Casella and Mayor Ellen Polimeni, who also represented Canandaigua Middle School, joined Curci and store manager Doug Kraft in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:30 this morning. The ceremony featured a performance by the Middle School Jazz Band. To show its appreciation, Tops presented the school with a $500 donation, underscoring its commitment to education.

Tops has also partnered with area schools to conduct a canned food drive to benefit Gleaner’s Community Kitchen. On Saturday, February 22nd, classes will deliver canned goods to the Canandaigua Tops. On March 8th, prizes will be awarded to the class that collects the most food, including a field trip to the Strong Museum and a class party at Jillian’s Arcade in Rochester. Their teacher will receive certificates and limo transportation to a dinner for two.

Tops Markets, LLC is one of six retail operating companies under Ahold USA, one of the leading supermarket operations in the U.S. Tops currently operates 157 Tops Friendly Markets, 205 convenience stores under the Wilson Farms, Sugarcreek and Tops Xpress banners, and 9 B-Kwik Food Markets in New York, Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio. This and other recent news releases can be found on Tops’ website at www.topsmarkets.com.

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Attached: Store Fact Sheet Store Features and Amenities Tops Friendly Markets 5150 North Street @ Route 332 Canandaigua, NY

 Pharmacy - Aside from filling prescriptions, the new pharmacy will have a consultation room, where customers can talk with a professional pharmacist, who can address various health questions or concerns. Tips for healthy living, including information about drugs, diseases and a good diet, will also be available. Hours: Monday – Friday 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Customers in Canandaigua will also be able to take advantage of Tops’ Easy Fill program, which enables them to transfer prescriptions and refill orders over the phone or via the Internet.

 Charter One In-Store Bank is open seven days a week and provides the full range of Charter One deposit products such as Totally Free Checking and money market accounts, and Charter One lending products such as consumer and home equity lines and loans.

 CarryOut Café - located adjacent to the deli, offers freshly prepared entrees, rotisserie and fried chicken, pizza, made-to-order sub sandwiches, grilled sandwiches, soup and salads. Dine-in or take-out available.

 U-Scan self-service checkouts - The Canandaigua location is the 43rd Tops to feature the system, which is designed to assist customers with small orders that would traditionally be rung through the “Express Lanes”.

 Baker’s Oven full-service bakery – Offers a variety of fresh-baked breads, rolls, cakes, muffins, bagels, donuts and cookies.

 Specialty departments: Deli, Butcher’s Block full-service meat department, Captain’s Choice full-service seafood department, Cheese Shoppe and the Olive Grove.

 Petal Works Floral - A colorful assortment of fresh-cut and arranged of flowers available daily. Special arrangements are available through pre-orders.

 Other departments include: Walter’s Garden produce department. Bulk foods, Dairy/Frozen, and the Relax, Renew, Revive health and beauty department.

 The Canandaigua Tops will also offer many services and conveniences, including:  Western Union Money Orders  Western Union Wire Transfers  Utility Payments  Rug Doctor Rentals  Film Processing  New York State Lottery  Payroll Check Cashing  Postage Stamps  Tops Gift Cards  Phone Cards  ATM  Bottle Returns  Tops BonusCard offers special savings, BonusCard Rewards, BONUSPERKS, and other benefits. Customers can sign up for their BonusCard when they enter the store.

 By visiting the Tops Website at www.topsmarkets.com, Internet customers can access Tops weekly ad flyer on line, look up selected data from their BonusCard accounts and take advantage of Tops “Web Bucks” savings.

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