Big Y in the News
Big Y Foods, Inc. is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England. Big Y operates 84 locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut including 70 supermarkets, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors and 13 Big Y Express gas and convenience locations with almost 12,000 employees. Big Y has been recognized by Forbes as a Best-in-State Employer in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as Employer of Choice by the Employers Association of the Northeast. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D'Amour, the store was named after an intersection in Chicopee, Massachusetts where two roads converge to form a "Y".
Big Y in the News contains excerpts from press releases that have been sent to local media.
Local Farmers Impacted by Floods Get More Aid from Big Y
SPRINGFIELD, MA – (July 26, 2023) As part of their ongoing support of local farms throughout their marketing area, Big Y Markets have once again pledged to help aid those farmers impacted by recent floods in the region. Big Y has pledged $25,000 to the Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fund as set up by Governor Healey’s administration and Ashley Randle, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner. Big Y’s support in Connecticut will be finalized soon.
Throughout their almost 90-year history, Big Y has worked alongside area growers in order to bring fresh and local produce to their customers whenever possible during the growing season. They currently work with over 100 local farmers most of whom have been impacted by recent flooding. Big Y’s buyers are talking with these local farmers every day. They are listening to their concerns. They have pledged to work closely with each of them so that whenever their replanted crops are available, even if late in the season, they will purchase them at fair market value. This price guarantee eases the burden on these farmers as they know they have a viable outlet for their efforts. Additionally, Big Y often provides transportation and refrigerated trucks to help their farmers get fruits and vegetables to each store.
Local farmers looking to partner with Big Y are encouraged to reach out to Jeff Vocatura, produce sales manager at Jvocatura@bigy.com. Big Y customers can also help local farmers by buying local produce whenever it is available.
According to Charles L. D’Amour, Big Y president and CEO “Big Y has always had a strong connection with the farmers in our marketing area. Our teams listen to these farmers every day in order to keep a pulse on each crop as it is harvested and delivered to our markets. We know that our customers appreciate the freshness of this native produce each time they visit one or our stores. We are grateful to our farmers, our local produce teams and our customers for their daily assistance in keeping local agriculture a vibrant part of our community.”
Big Y Foods, Inc. is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England. Big Y operates locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut including supermarkets, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors and Big Y Express gas and convenience locations with over 10,000 employees. Big Y has been recognized by Forbes as a Best-in-State Employer in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as 2018 Employer of Choice by the Employers Association of the Northeast. They are ranked at number 72 on Progressive Grocer’s PG 100, annual list of North America’s top food retailers. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D'Amour, the store was named after an intersection in Chicopee, Massachusetts where two roads converge to form a "Y".
