Price Chopper (Northeastern United States)
Price Chopper Supermarkets is a Northeast U.S. grocery chain based in Schenectady, New York. It began in 1932 in the Capital District as Central Market, founded by William and Bernard Golub and partners, and adopted the Price Chopper name in 1973. Today, the chain operates about 128 stores in six states—Upstate New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania—under the Price Chopper, Market Bistro, and Market 32 brands. It employs around 24,000 people and generated about $3.5 billion in revenue in 2019.
Price Chopper has a history of innovations, including early adoption of superstores, large-scale food and drug formats, and 24-hour operations. In the 2010s it began using the Market 32 concept, redesigning stores for a more upscale look and offering expanded ready-to-eat options, while the old Central Market name remains as an upscale house brand and for the floral department.
Ownership shifted in 2021 when the Golub family sold Price Chopper to Northeast Grocery, the parent company formed after a merger with Tops Markets. The merged group is headquartered in Schenectady and runs Price Chopper and Tops with local management.
In late 2023, Price Chopper purchased five former ShopRite stores in New York’s Capital Region. Some locations were slated to become Market 32 stores, while others would be subleased, further expanding the chain’s regional footprint.
Price Chopper stores offer bakery, dairy, deli, produce, meat, seafood, groceries, pharmacy, and more, competing with nearby chains such as Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Wegmans, ShopRite, and Tops. The chain uses several private-label brands, including PICS by Price Chopper, Price Chopper, Central Market Classics, and items sourced through Topco Associates.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 12:30 (CET).