Tops is Tops But Losing Share
By George Anderson
Business First of Buffalo (NY) reports that Tops Friendly Markets (Ahold) has the greatest share of the area’s supermarket sales according to research conducted by the publication and Goldhaber Research Associates.
Tops’ fifty-five percent share of the market outpaces number two Wegman’s with a thirty-one percent share.
A concern for Tops management, however, is that the chain is losing share to both Wegman’s and Aldi. Arun Vishwanath, director of market research, Goldhaber Research Associates says that a combined seven-point increase demonstrates “Wegmans and Aldi’s are coming up, and they’re doing it at Tops’ expense. Wegmans is eating into Tops’ share on the upper end of the market, socioeconomically. And Aldi’s is definitely making an impact at the lower level.”
Moderator’s Comment: If you were charged with managing
Tops Friendly Markets, Wegman’s or Aldi in the Buffalo area, what would you
take away from this research? [George
Anderson – Moderator]