Pathmark Stores, Inc. Joins Topco as a New Member-Owner

  
    
  
  
    
      Pathmark Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTMK) announced today that it has joined 
      Topco Associates LLC, a privately-held national cooperative that helps 
      its members leverage their collective volume in realizing cost 
      efficiencies in the area of product procurement. Pathmark will 
      participate in Topco’s private label programs 
      involving Grocery, Health and Beauty Care, General Merchandise, Frozen, 
      Dairy and Bakery.
    
    
      Ken Martindale, Co-President and Chief Marketing and Merchandising 
      Officer of Pathmark stated, “We are pleased to 
      become a member of Topco and take advantage of the many high quality 
      products and cost containment opportunities that Topco offers. As one of 
      Topco’s 60 member companies, we join a 
      cooperative that has aggregated purchasing power of more than $5.6 
      billion. We expect to realize significant benefits, in particular, this 
      partnership will help to strengthen our private label program and it is 
      another major step in our repositioning of Pathmark.”
    
    
      About Pathmark Stores, Inc.
    
    
      Pathmark is a leading regional supermarket chain currently operating 141 
      supermarkets in the New York- New Jersey and Philadelphia metropolitan 
      areas. Additional information about Pathmark may be found at its 
      website, www.pathmark.com.
    
    
      About Topco
    
    
      Topco Associates LLC is a privately-held company with revenues of $5.6 
      billion. The company specializes in aggregating the purchases of its 60 
      food industry member-owners in the procurement of a broad range of 
      products and services. Topco leverages the volume, knowledge, and 
      commitment of its member companies to be the least cost and most 
      effective provider of quality goods and services for the food industry. 
      Additional information about Topco may be found at its website, www.topco.com.
    
  
Pathmark Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTMK) announced today that it has
joined Topco Associates LLC, a privately-held national cooperative
that helps its members leverage their collective volume in realizing
cost efficiencies in the area of product procurement. Pathmark will
participate in Topco's private label programs involving Grocery,
Health and Beauty Care, General Merchandise, Frozen, Dairy and Bakery.

   Ken Martindale, Co-President and Chief Marketing and Merchandising
Officer of Pathmark stated, "We are pleased to become a member of
Topco and take advantage of the many high quality products and cost
containment opportunities that Topco offers. As one of Topco's 60
member companies, we join a cooperative that has aggregated purchasing
power of more than $5.6 billion. We expect to realize significant
benefits, in particular, this partnership will help to strengthen our
private label program and it is another major step in our
repositioning of Pathmark."

   About Pathmark Stores, Inc.

   Pathmark is a leading regional supermarket chain currently
operating 141 supermarkets in the New York- New Jersey and
Philadelphia metropolitan areas. Additional information about Pathmark
may be found at its website, www.pathmark.com.

   About Topco

   Topco Associates LLC is a privately-held company with revenues of
$5.6 billion. The company specializes in aggregating the purchases of
its 60 food industry member-owners in the procurement of a broad range
of products and services. Topco leverages the volume, knowledge, and
commitment of its member companies to be the least cost and most
effective provider of quality goods and services for the food
industry. Additional information about Topco may be found at its
website, www.topco.com.