Northeast Grocery 401(k) Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Collins, et al. v. Northeast Grocery, Inc., et al., No. 5:24-cv-00080

If you had a 401(k) through the Northeast Grocery 401(k) Plan, the Tops Markets 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, the Price Chopper Associate 401(k) Plan, or the Tops Markets 401(k) Savings Plan for Union Associates at any point between January 1, 2018, and August 5, 2026 — yes, you are included. There is a $225,000 settlement fund, and you don’t need to file anything to get paid.

Northeast Grocery 401(k) Settlement — Key Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$225,000 (Qualified Settlement Fund)
Claim Deadline	None — this is an automatic settlement; no claim form exists
Who Qualifies	Anyone who participated in the Plans between January 1, 2018, and August 5, 2026, including beneficiaries of deceased participants and QDRO alternate payees
Estimated Payout	UNVERIFIED — the Net Settlement Amount won’t be known until fees, costs, and Service Awards are deducted and a court-approved Plan of Allocation determines individual shares
Proof Required (Yes/No)	No — payment is automatic by check; you cannot opt out or file a claim
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved; awaiting final approval
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York — No. 5:24-cv-00080
Law Alleged	Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) — breach of fiduciary duty, prohibited transactions
Administrator	Analytics Consulting LLC
Official Claim Site	northeastgrocery401ksettlement.com
Last Updated	September 26, 2026

Who Is Northeast Grocery and Why Are They Being Sued Over Their 401(k) Plans?

Northeast Grocery, Inc. runs the retirement plans for employees at Tops Markets and Price Chopper stores. Running a 401(k) plan comes with a legal duty to actively manage it in participants’ interest — negotiating reasonable fees, picking suitable investment options, and monitoring the people hired to do that work. This case argues Northeast Grocery didn’t meet that duty for the people whose retirement savings sat in these plans.

What Did Northeast Grocery Do to Plan Participants Between 2018 and 2026?

The plaintiffs originally claimed Northeast Grocery failed to investigate cheaper share classes and alternative funds, failed to monitor its portfolio managers and investment advisor, failed to monitor recordkeeping fees, breached its duty of loyalty, and engaged in prohibited transactions. A district court dismissed all of the claims. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit later sent the case back for reconsideration of two claims tied to prohibited transactions — not because the original ruling was wrong, but because the law itself changed while the case was pending.

Northeast Grocery denies every allegation and says it reasonably and prudently managed the plans’ fees. Both sides agreed to settle rather than risk a result that could have gone either way — a bigger win for the class, or nothing at all.

That back-and-forth through the courts, ending in a change in the law rather than a finding of fault, is exactly why this settled instead of going to trial.

Who Qualifies for the Northeast Grocery 401(k) Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if this case includes you.

• Anyone who participated in the Northeast Grocery 401(k) Plan, the Tops Markets 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, the Price Chopper Associate 401(k) Plan, or the Tops Markets 401(k) Savings Plan for Union Associates between January 1, 2018, and August 5, 2026
• Beneficiaries of a deceased person who participated in the Plans during that window
• Alternate payees under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) tied to a participant

You likely do not qualify if:

• You never participated in one of these specific plans
• Your participation fell entirely outside the January 1, 2018 to August 5, 2026 window

Former Employees Who’ve Moved — Are You Still Covered?

Yes, and this matters more than usual here. If you’re a former plan participant and haven’t updated your address with the Plans, the settlement administrator may not be able to find you to send your check. Reach out to the administrator directly to confirm your current address is on file.

Not sure how this affects your retirement account, or want help understanding what you’re releasing by staying in? A free consultation with an employee benefits attorney can help before the November 17 objection deadline.

How Much Can Northeast Grocery Settlement Class Members Get?

Northeast Grocery will put $225,000 into a Qualified Settlement Fund. After taxes and court-approved costs, fees, and expenses — including Class Counsel’s attorneys’ fees, Service Awards to the Named Plaintiffs, and the cost of calculating and administering payments — come out, what’s left is the Net Settlement Amount.

What “Net Settlement Amount” Means for Your Check

The settlement notice is direct about this: the Net Settlement Amount won’t be known until all of those deductions are quantified. It will then be divided among class members according to a Plan of Allocation the court still has to approve — meaning individual payments are tied to a formula, not a flat per-person amount, and the exact figure isn’t set yet.

Payments here are structured as “restorative payments” under IRS Revenue Ruling 2002-45, and checks are valid for 180 days from the date they’re issued. You’re personally responsible for any taxes on whatever you receive — the settlement doesn’t sort that out for you.

Nobody can tell you your exact number before the court approves the Plan of Allocation — and that’s true even for people already checking the settlement website daily.

How Do You Get Paid?

You don’t need to file a claim. If you’re a Settlement Class member entitled to a payment once the settlement becomes final, the administrator mails you a check directly — no form, no proof of participation required from you, no deadline to file anything.

The one thing that matters: keeping your address current. If you’ve left the company and haven’t updated your contact information with the Plans, reach out to the Settlement Administrator, Analytics Consulting LLC, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 888-429-2413.

Can You Opt Out of the Northeast Grocery Settlement?

No — and that’s worth understanding clearly. This settlement is structured as a non-opt-out class action under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(1). The court has preliminarily found that rule’s requirements are met, which means there is no way for any class member to exclude themselves. If you participated in the Plans during the class period, you’re bound by whatever the court ultimately decides, whether you want to be part of it or not.

Your Only Option Is to Object

Since you can’t opt out, objecting is the one way to formally push back on the settlement. To object, send a signed letter naming Collins, et al. v. Northeast Grocery, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 5:24-cv-00080, with your name, address, phone number, and a full explanation of your objection. It must be filed with the Clerk of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York — P.O. Box 7367, Syracuse, NY 13261 — and copied to both Class Counsel and Defense Counsel, received no later than November 17, 2026.

If you want to speak at the Fairness Hearing, you also need to file a separate Notice of Intention to Appear by the same deadline. Attending isn’t required either way — the case moves forward whether or not you show up.

Talk to a class action lawsuit attorney before November 17, 2026, if you’re considering objecting — remember, staying silent still gets you a payment; it just means you accept the settlement’s terms as written.

Northeast Grocery 401(k) Settlement — Key Dates, 2026

Milestone	Date
Class Period Begins	January 1, 2018
Class Period Ends	August 5, 2026
Objection Deadline	November 17, 2026
Notice of Intention to Appear Deadline	November 17, 2026
Fairness Hearing	December 1, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — payments follow final approval, calculation of the Net Settlement Amount, and resolution of any appeals

Northeast Grocery 401(k) Settlement — Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to get a Northeast Grocery settlement payment?

 No. You don’t have to do anything to receive your share if you’re entitled to one. The Sharman Law Firm LLC is already representing the class as Class Counsel, and you won’t be charged directly by them. You can hire your own attorney at your own expense if you want one.

Is the Northeast Grocery 401(k) settlement legitimate? 

Yes. It resolves Collins, et al. v. Northeast Grocery, Inc., et al., No. 5:24-cv-00080, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, and is administered by Analytics Consulting LLC.

When will Northeast Grocery settlement payments be sent? 

UNVERIFIED — no specific payment date has been announced. Payments follow the December 1, 2026 Fairness Hearing, calculation of the Net Settlement Amount, and resolution of any appeals.

Can I opt out if I don’t want to be part of this settlement?

 No. This is a mandatory, non-opt-out class action under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(1). If you participated in the Plans during the class period, you’re bound by the settlement regardless of whether you want to be.

Will my Northeast Grocery settlement payment go on a 1099?

 Payments are structured as restorative payments under IRS Revenue Ruling 2002-45, and you’re personally responsible for any resulting taxes. Check with a tax professional about how this applies to your specific situation.

What happens if my settlement check isn’t cashed in time?

Checks are valid for 180 days from the date they’re issued. If you’ve moved since your time with the Plans, update your address with the Settlement Administrator so your check reaches you.

What specific claims does this settlement resolve?

 Claims that Northeast Grocery breached its fiduciary duties under ERISA by failing to monitor plan fees, investment options, and service providers, along with two claims related to prohibited transactions that a federal appeals court sent back for further review.

Sources Used in This Northeast Grocery 401(k) Settlement Article

• Official Settlement Website — Collins, et al. v. Northeast Grocery, Inc., et al., Home page: https://northeastgrocery401ksettlement.com/
• Official Settlement Website — Frequently Asked Questions: https://northeastgrocery401ksettlement.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official settlement website’s home page and FAQ on September 26, 2026. Last Updated: September 26, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.