NationsBenefits and Tops Friendly Markets Partner to Advance Food as Medicine Access Across Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont
'For more than 60 years, Tops Friendly Markets has anchored community health,' said Michael Parker, Co‑CEO of NationsBenefits. 'Integrating their stores into our supplemental‑benefit network brings healthier, benefits‑eligible foods within easy reach..."
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'For more than sixty years, Tops Friendly Markets has anchored community health,' said Michael Parker, Co-CEO of NationsBenefits. 'Integrating their stores into our supplemental-benefit network brings healthier, benefits-eligible foods within easy reach of families who once faced long drives or limited choices.'
Food insecurity remains a critical challenge, with nearly one in four New York adults, particularly in rural counties, lacking reliable access to nutritious food. Nationwide, nearly 19 million Americans live in low-income, low-access census tracts, often more than ten miles from the nearest supermarket, while diabetes rates run up to 17 percent higher in rural areas than in urban centers. By integrating our Basket Adjudication Service (BAS) at every Tops checkout, NationsBenefits transforms routine grocery trips into Food as Medicine opportunities, letting members redeem supplemental benefits on culturally familiar, locally sourced items. Our real-time basket-analytics engine captures each eligible transaction at checkout, delivering ZIP-code-level purchase insights that enable health plans to fine-tune benefits and launch precisely targeted community outreach.
"Feeding our neighborhoods well has always been at the heart of Tops," said Ron Ferri, President of Tops Friendly Markets. "By joining the NationsBenefits retail network, we can now place affordable, nutritious options directly in front of eligible shoppers at the very moment they fill their baskets."
Tops remains focused on delivering an exceptional experience rooted in fresh, high-quality products and services, and innovative programs. With a continued focus on meeting customers where they are, the company is helping support healthier lifestyles, simplify shopping, and make every trip to the store more rewarding.
'Tops Friendly Markets has been ensuring access to high quality fresh foods and cutting-edge Pharmacy services to generations of customers,' said Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN, FAND, manager of lifestyle and wellness for Tops. 'We strive to innovate and explore how we can best serve shoppers seeking wellness options, with a spotlight on natural, organic and gluten free items, partnerships with local produce farmers, and now, direct access to insurance benefits that empower healthy purchases.'
Peer-reviewed research shows that medically tailored meals and broader Food as Medicine programs can cut annual hospitalizations by 47% while managing overall healthcare costs by 16%. Leveraging this proprietary BAS technology, health plans also gain real-world, transaction-level insights that illuminate nutrition gaps by geography or chronic-condition cohort, guide ZIP-code-specific preventive initiatives such as A1C screenings or dietitian consults, and power personalized rewards that reinforce healthy shopping habits, improve member experience and engagement. Together, we're transforming everyday grocery visits into measurable outcomes that improve the health and wellness of individuals.
About NationsBenefits
NationsBenefits® is a leading provider of supplemental benefits, fintech solutions, and outcome improvement solutions to the healthcare industry. NationsBenefits partners with managed care organizations to provide innovative healthcare, data analytics, gap closure, and fintech solutions aimed at driving growth, reducing costs, and delighting members. Combining its cutting-edge technology with targeted retailer partnerships, NationsBenefits empowers health plans to deliver impactful supplemental benefits to optimize member experiences and drive better health outcomes. By simplifying processes to make smarter choices and expanding access to benefits solutions, NationsBenefits aims to improve each of its members' quality of life through its revolutionary and comprehensive suite of offerings. To learn more, visit NationsBenefits.com.
About Tops Friendly Markets
Based in Williamsville, NY, Tops Markets currently operates 152 grocery stores in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, including one that is run by a franchisee. As the largest private, for-profit employer in Western New York, with over 14,000 associates, the company is dedicated to providing sustainably sourced, high-quality products, while helping its communities flourish via support for programs that eradicate hunger and disease, educate youth, and reduce environmental waste and energy consumption. For more information, visit www.topsmarkets.com.
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