Tops Friendly Markets announces role changes

Tops Friendly Markets has promoted Matthew Blair to category business manager for produce, fruit desk, a move that shifted Justin Rowe to category business manager for produce, vegetable desk.

Blair will be responsible for developing and managing the procurement and merchandising program for his assigned category to achieve budgeted sales, gross profit, inventory turns and service levels, the grocery retailer said in a news release. He will work directly with buyers, pricing and space management to maximize support for assigned categories, select new items and develop merchandising programs.

Blair comes to Northeast Shared Services (Northeast Grocery Inc.'s parent company of Tops and Price Chopper/Market 32) from Price Chopper/Market 32 with 24 years of produce experience. He has held various produce-related roles during his tenure including produce clerk, assistant team leader for produce, team leader for produce, produce/floral specialist and junior category business manager for produce, a position he held until being promoted.

Tops said Blair's predecessor, Rowe, made a seamless transition from the fruit desk. Rowe has been with the company for 25 years. He has worked at several stores over the years and has held various positions such as produce clerk, assistant prepared foods manager, customer operations manager, nonperishable operations manager, perishable operations manager, assistant store manager and store manager for the Tops store in Dansville, N.Y.