Northeast Grocery names new COO, Tops leadership

Northeast Grocery, Inc. (NGI) the parent company of Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Friendly Markets, announced Thursday several promotions and leadership changes among its ranks.

The company has named John Persons, a nearly 40-year Tops veteran, as its chief operating officer. Persons will oversee operations at both Price Chopper and Tops as well as the merchandising and marketing functions of Northeast Shared Services, a subsidiary of NGI that provides services to both grocers. Persons will report directly to NGI CEO Frank Curci.

NGI promoted Ron Ferri, a 34-year Tops veteran who most recently oversaw operations and distribution, to succeed Persons as Tops’ president. Ferri, who began his career at Tops as a produce clerk in 1989, has served in store-level and executive management positions during his 34 years with Tops.

"Among the tremendous workforce we've developed at Tops, Ron Ferri stands out as someone who understands our communities and cares deeply for our customers,” Persons said. “As he has for over 30 years, he'll continue to give this job his all. Ron is well prepared to lead Tops forward.”

Ron Ferri, president of Tops Friendly Markets.

Courtesy of Northeast Grocery, Inc.

NGI said it named Mike Miller as its chief administrative officer, a role in which he will lead the human resources, legal, government affairs, corporate communications, public relations and risk management functions, as well as oversee merger integration. Miller was previously senior vice president of human resources and executive vice president of human resources and administration at Northeast Shared Services.

"Promoting John to COO and Mike to CAO fills out our executive leadership team and bolsters our experience and expertise in many of the functional areas that continue to contribute to our combined company's growth," Curci said in the announcement.

Mike Miller, chief administrative officer at Northeast Grocery, Inc.

Courtesy of Northeast Grocery, Inc.

NGI also said it promoted 50-year Tops veteran Mike Patti to succeed Ferri as senior vice president of operations at Tops and that Jim Gibson will succeed Patti as regional vice president for Tops' West Region.

NGI formed after the merger of Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets in 2021. At the start of last year, Frank Curci, the former Tops Markets chairman and CEO, took over as NGI’s CEO, stepping into the role filled by the retirement of Scott Grimmett, who was named the company’s CEO when the two grocery chains merged.