Tops Friendly Markets promotes from within for seafood role

Tops Friendly Markets has promoted one of its own. The Williamsville, N.Y.-based retailer has named Rusty Ames assistant category business manager, seafood.

Ames has been with the retailer since 1994, holding such leadership roles as butcher block manager, meat manager, assistant store manager, and meat and seafood specialist.

In his promoted role, Ames will travel to find new seafood items for the grocery chain, including private label goods like private label shrimp for that category or bagged frozen fillets, for example. He’ll also negotiate deals and serve both internal and external customers.

Tops operates 159 stores in New York, northern Pennsylvania and Vermont, employing more than 14,000 associates.