Tops Names Director of Warehouse Ops

Tops Markets LLC has hired Lorenzo Grooms as its director of warehouse operations. Grooms comes to Tops after holding various leadership positions within Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle, where he was operations manager for 14 years, and foodservice distributors Sysco International Food Group, in Plant, City, Fla., where his most recent position was director of operations.

Bringing to his news a wealth of experience working within a union environment and with collective bargaining agreements, as well as with process improvement, safety, and staff development, Grooms will oversee all functions relating to warehouse operations in the grocery, perishable, and frozen distribution centers, including the development and implementation of initiatives to enhance associate morale; guiding team performance in the execution of optimal store service; delivering results in key financial metrics, staffing, selection/receiving accuracy and throughput; and improving the supply chain and efficiency to the stores.

Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops operates 173 full-service supermarkets with five additional stores run by franchisees under the Tops banner. The chain employs more than 15,000 associates in New York, northern Pennsylvania, western Vermont and north central Massachusetts.