By JAMES FINK
jfink@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1611

For some former P&C supermarkets, the switch to the Tops Friendly Markets name became official Sept. 8.

Tops marked the brand-name change with a series of celebrations in Onondaga, Oneida, Madison, Lewis and Jefferson counties. Each of the 20 supermarkets will undergo a series of capital improvements, with work varying from store to store.

They were part of the 79 former Penn Traffic-owned supermarkets acquired ny Tops earlier this year. It has been shifting the Penn Traffic operations to its own brand and corporate identity since early spring.

"The entire Tops team has worked very hard to ensure that our new store customers will have a more enjoyable shopping experience as they see the many changes in the setting, amenities, friendly service and promotional grocery items that our neighborhood stores will offer," said Frank Curci, Tops president and CEO.

The former P&C stores included 11 in Onondaga County, four in Oneida County, three in Madison County, two in Lewis County and one in Jefferson County.

The Amherst-based Tops has 131 full-service supermarkets in its portfolio, including 126 company-owned and five franchised locations.