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.
Big Y appoints Nicole D’Amour Schneider to senior vice president
Another 3rd generation family member takes on new leadership role
SPRINGFIELD, MA – (January 17, 2024) The Board of Directors of Big Y Foods, Inc. has announced the appointment of Nicole D’Amour Schneider to the position of senior vice president of retail operations and customer experience.
Beginning January 21st, she will assume the responsibility for the chain’s entire retail division namely Big Y Supermarkets, Big Y Express gas and convenience stores, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors as well as the Big Y Pharmacy and Wellness division. She will also lead the asset protection and front end operations teams. In her new role, she will develop and drive strategy in each of these areas with a focus on growth of store and department leaders while creating and executing plans to enhance sales, profits and most importantly, the customer experience.
She reports to Richard D. Bossie, COO who said, “her experience, knowledge of our stores, our teams and our customers along with her commitment to continuous improvement make her ideally suited for this newly expanded role. Her efforts have made a tremendous impact on all of us at Big Y.”
D’Amour Schneider has been serving as vice president of supermarket operations since 2019 where her responsibilities encompassed 72 markets across Massachusetts and Connecticut. She is also a founding member and on the board of Big Y Women LEAD, their first employee resource group focused on inspiring and empowering women to develop their leadership potential.
She started working at Big Y as a service clerk in 1989 as a teenager and has worked in all areas of the supermarket including customer service manager, store director in
several stores before moving to corporate roles in employee services and training, customer relationship, culture and engagement as well as director of pharmacy.
A 3rd generation D’Amour family member, she is the granddaughter of co-founder, Paul D’Amour and daughter of Donald D’Amour, chairman emeritus. A graduate of Connecticut College, she also taught history at Canterbury School in New Milford, CT where she has served on their board of trustees since 2009 and is a member of their executive committee. In addition, Nicole has held the appointment of chair of the philanthropy advisory board for Mercy Medical Center since 2021.
A resident of Massachusetts, she and her husband, Todd, have three children.
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, and in 2023 for both Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and for Women. 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".