Topco Associates

Topco Associates

Cooperative supporting regional grocers and communities

Overview

Topco Associates is a member-owned cooperative that helps regional grocery retailers and wholesalers serve their communities by providing high-quality, affordable products and services. It pools members’ purchasing power and knowledge, using data analytics to tailor offerings and improve efficiency through member-driven buying and support programs. This scale and shared data differentiate Topco from competitors by delivering competitive pricing and specialized options to regional retailers. Its goal is to empower local grocers to compete with national chains while better serving over 10,000 communities.

About Topco Associates

Simplify's Rating
Why Topco Associates is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Consulting

Consumer Goods

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Founded

1944

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • March 2026 conference honored $1 billion purchasers, signaling strong member engagement and volume retention.
  • March 2025 added American Foods International and AWG, expanding buying scale and network reach.
  • April 2026 LFES graduates built AI governance capability, improving member-facing innovation execution.

What critics are saying

  • Topco depends on member concentration; losing Walmart-scale volume is impossible, but losing SpartanNash hurts.
  • Aldi and Costco pressure independents' private-label pricing, squeezing Topco's bargaining leverage in 2026.
  • If large members source directly, Topco becomes a redundant middle layer and shrinks structurally.

What makes Topco Associates unique

  • Topco's member-owned cooperative model aligns incentives across 2026 board member-grocers.
  • Topco bundles $19.5 billion purchasing power, lowering costs for independents like Weis and Stater Bros.
  • Topco's private brands and knowledge management create shared capabilities beyond simple procurement.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Hybrid Work Options

Company News

Topco Associates
Mar 5th, 2026
Topco Associates announces new Board Chairman, updates to the Board

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.

The Shelby Report
Mar 11th, 2025
Topco Associates Shares Membership Updates

President and CEO Michael D'Amour was appointed vice chairman of Topco's board of directors.

ForexTV
Mar 11th, 2025
Topco Associates announces notable membership updates

Itasca, Illinois, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Topco Associates, LLC recently held its Annual Membership Conference where the cooperative provided notable updates, including the announcement of American Foods International Inc. and Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. as the two newest organizations to join the membership.

GlobeNewswire
Mar 21st, 2024
Topco Associates Announces Changes To Board Of Directors, Operations Team

Itasca, Illinois, March 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Topco Associates, LLC recently celebrated its 80th anniversary with its member-owners at the 2024 Annual Membership Conference. While at the conference, the cooperative announced its 2024-2026 Board of Directors while also notifying the membership of changes taking place on its Operations Team.K-VA-T Food Stores Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Smith has been named Topco’s Chairman of the Board. K-VA-T has been a member of Topco since 1995, and Smith and his team have been impactful leaders within the Topco membership.Smith replaces Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee, Inc. Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors who will be retiring from Hy-Vee this summer. Edeker's leadership has been at the forefront of Topco’s growth since joining the Board of Directors in 2011, including serving as the Chairman of the Board from 2013-2016 and most recently from 2022-2024.“Randy has been a highly visible leader in the membership for many years, and I can honestly say that he has been a key driving force in helping transform Topco into the organization it is today,” said Randy Skoda, Topco President and Chief Executive Officer

BNN Breaking
Feb 29th, 2024
NYK Expands Global Reach with Strategic Acquisition of UK's Noel Topco, Boosting E-Commerce Services

NYK's acquisition of Noel Topco signals a significant leap in its logistics offerings, marking a strategic move into the e-commerce market.

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