Topco Associates announces new Board Chairman, updates to the Board

Topco names new members to Board of Directors, Operations Team

Topco Associates, LLC recently held its Annual Membership Conference where—among other notable initiatives—the Board elected Big Y Foods, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Michael D’Amour as Board Chairman.

“I am truly honored for the opportunity to continue serving on Topco’s Board of Directors as Board Chairman,” D’Amour said. “I look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership within the membership as we further drive our shared strategic vision for Topco.”

D’Amour is the grandson of Big Y co-founder Paul D’Amour and began working in the supermarkets in various roles as a teenager before beginning his full-time career at Big Y in 1996. Big Y has been a member of Topco since 1991. He most recently served as Vice Chairman on Topco’s Board of Directors, has been an active supporter of Topco for decades and previously served as a member of the Operations Team for more than 20 years. Additionally, D’Amour serves on the board of FMI/The Food Industry Association.

He replaces outgoing Chairman, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Smith, who served as Board Chairman for two years before his term expired following the annual conference. A member of Topco’s Board of Directors since 1999, Smith previously served as chairman from 2003-2007 and 2011-2013, as well as vice chairman from 2022-2024 and will remain a Director.

“We thank Steve for his stewardship and leadership of Topco’s Board of Directors over the past two years,” said Topco President and CEO Randy Skoda. “We look forward to Michael’s oversight of the strategic direction of the Topco Board of Directors and to advancing the strength, innovation, and collective success of independent grocery retailer and wholesale member-owners.”

In addition to D’Amour’s appointment, Principals of Topco’s full Member-Owners unanimously approved the appointment of the following Directors for a two-year term.

The current Topco Board of Directors is as follows:
Topco Chairman of the Board of Directors Michael D’Amour, Big Y Foods, Inc; Chris Coborn, Coborn’s Incorporated; Dan Funk, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc.; Brian George, Alex Lee, Inc.; John Persons, Northeast Grocery, Inc.; David Rice, Associated Food Stores, Inc.; Todd Schnuck, Schnuck Markets, Inc.; Steve Smith, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc.; Randy Skoda, Topco Associates, LLC; Pete Van Helden, Stater Bros. Markets; and Eric Winn, C&S Wholesale Grocers.

Changes to Topco’s Operations Team were also made during the conference, including the co-chair appointment of Manard Lagasse, Topco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He will work alongside fellow co-chair Rebecca Calvin, Stater Bros. Markets’ Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer, leading the team to make recommendations
and decisions that leverage and maximize Topco’s effectiveness as a strategic resource and partner for its member-owners.

The current Topco Operations Team is as follows:
Nick Albrecht, The Fred W. Albrecht Grocery Company; Tye Anthony, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc.; Randy Arceneaux, Affiliated Foods, Inc.; Rebecca Calvin, Stater Bros. Markets; Tanya Carlson, Coborn's Incorporated; Michael Cormier, Big Y Foods, Inc.; Jeff Culhane, Northeast Grocery Inc.; Bob Gleeson, Weis Markets, Inc.; Dan Glei, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc.; Kim Gray, Schnuck Markets, Inc.; Tom Hermes, Alex Lee, Inc./MDI; Glen Keysaw, Associated Food Stores, Inc.; Manard Lagasse, Topco Associates, LLC; Jerry LeClair, Brookshire Holdings, Inc.; and Mark McGowan, C&S Wholesale Grocers.

—About Topco Associates, LLC—
Topco Associates, LLC is a $19.5 billion, privately held, member-owned company that provides aggregation, innovation and knowledge management solutions for its leading food industry member-owners and customers, including grocery retailers, wholesalers, food service, and pharmacy companies. Topco leverages the collective volume, knowledge, and commitment of these companies to create a competitive advantage in the marketplace by reducing costs and offering winning business-building capabilities. For more information, visit www.topco.com.