Tops Embarks on Anniversary ‘Free for All’

To thank its loyal shoppers on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Tops Markets LLC has launched its 50th Anniversary Free For All Gigantic Grocery Giveaway. The giveaway will run through Jan. 5, 2013, and involve millions of dollars’ worth of free groceries.

“As we gear up for the grand finale of this year’s anniversary celebration, we want to say thank you in a unique and fun way to our associates, customers and communities for allowing us to be a part of their family for 50 years,” said Frank Curci, president and CEO of Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops, which operates 153 supermarkets -- 148 company-owned and five franchise locations -- under the Tops, Grand Union and Bryant’s banners in upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont.

Customers can earn Gold Anniversary Points and redeem them for free products ranging from Tops branded products such as bread, eggs, sugar and butter to brand-name favorites like Tide laundry detergent, General Mills cereal and Birds Eye vegetables. Shoppers can even collect Gold Anniversary Points to redeem a free Tops frozen turkey for the holidays.

Each time a customer shops at Tops she’ll get a 50th Anniversary Peel-Off Ticket at checkout. Each ticket features an in-store coupon and between five and 1,000 Gold Anniversary Points. The customer peels and reveals the Gold Anniversary Points value on her ticket, and then presents it to the cashier along with her Tops BonusPlus or BonusCard, and the Gold Anniversary Points will be instantly added to her Tops BonusPlus account and reflected in a new Gold Points balance on her receipt.

When customers attain a Gold Anniversary Points threshold of 100, 250, 500 or 1000, they may redeem their points for a free product or products in that Gold Points category. Products available in these categories can be found online.

“We wanted to do this in a simple and engaging way that our customers will enjoy, and will allow them to choose the products they want from among a list of popular national- and store-brand products,” added Curci. “We know that especially during the holidays, shoppers are looking to save money. We’re not just lowering prices on these items, we’re giving them away for free.”

Customers can also earn five extra Gold Anniversary Points on more than 2,000 individual participating vendor products available at Tops, when they use their Tops BonusPlus or BonusCards.

What’s more, each time shoppers turn in their tickets, they’ll be automatically entered into a weekly drawing for the chance to win free groceries for a year, a $5,000 value. One winner will be drawn and contacted weekly, for a total of 12 winners over the next three months.