Topco awards members for excellence in own brands, Topco programs

3/6/2020

Topco and Hy-Vee executives at the awards event

During its annual membership conference in Palm Springs, Calif., Topco awarded 10 retailers for commitment and success with their own brand programs such as managing fresh food departments or aggregated private brands. Hy-Vee took home the top award, leading all Topco members in greatest overall purchase volume. It’s the 15th straight year the retailer has earned that recognition.

Topco Associates recognized members for own brand excellence in dollar growth and percentage of growth. Privately held, the Elk Grove, Ill.-based company aggregates management solutions, innovation and more than 20 private brand programs for member retailers. Topco brand lines include Culinary Tours and Full Circle Marketi in food, Pure Harmony and Paws in pets, TopCare, @ease and more.

A list of winners during the conference include:

Hy-Vee Inc. – Greatest Overall Purchase Volume

Hy-Vee out-drove all members in overall purchases in 2019. The retailer’s been a member of the Topco Board of Directors since 2003 and an active member for 20 years.

K-VA-T Food Stores Inc. – Greatest Overall Purchase Penetration

K-VA-T Food Stores achieved outstanding engagement in Topco programs, surpassing all members in overall purchase penetration in 2019. It’s the 16th year in a row garnering this achievement.

Associated Food Stores Inc. – Greatest Dollar Growth, All Programs

Associated Food Stores continued to expand last year in categories such as pharmacy, dairy and indirect spend. They also saw significant dollar growth through the store brand Food Club.

Schnuck Markets Inc. – Greatest Percentage Growth, All Programs

Schnucks demonstrated growth across the Topco portfolio, namely in produce, center store, fresh meat and beef.

Big Y Foods Inc. – Greatest Dollar Growth, Fresh

Big Y grew significantly in its fresh food offerings, particularly in fresh meat, branded meat and produce departments.

Brookshire Holdings Inc. – Greatest Percentage Growth, Fresh

Brookshire grew overalll fresh purchases by leveraging Topco programs with new purchases in avocados, beef cuts, sausage and bacon.

SpartanNash Company – Greatest Dollar Growth, Value-Add

In 2019, SpartanNash significantly expanded participation in Topco’s pharmacy program, seeing most of its growth come from Branded Rx.

Alex Lee Inc. – Greatest Percentage Growth, Value-Add

Last year, the Alex Lee team saw best-in-class percentage growth through an increased commitment in Topco fuel and indirect spend programs.

URM Stores Inc. – Greatest Dollar Growth, Center Store

Focusing on selling the Topco own brands to independent grocers, URM achieved greatest dollar growth in the center store department by expanding through Topco’s programs in dairy, specifically eggs and cheese.

Affiliated Foods Inc. – Greatest Percentage Growth, Center Store

In 2019, AFI - Amarillo grew its Topco program in center store, increasing participation in Topco’s dairy program.