Big Y Foods
Encyclopedia
Big Y Foods, Inc. is an American
supermarket chain. Big Y has stores in Connecticut
and Massachusetts
; it operates under the names "Big Y World Class Market" or "Big Y Supermarket."
In 1936, a young entrepreneur, Paul D'Amour, with aid from his brother Gerald and sisters Ann Marie, Yvette, and Gertrude, purchased the Y Cash Market in the Willimansett section of Chicopee, Massachusetts
at an intersection where two roads converged at a "Y". On December 12, 1936, the brothers began Y Cash Market, the forerunner of Big Y. The company is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts
. Big Y now is run by cousins Charles and Donald D'Amour.
Big Y is one of the largest independently-owned supermarket chains in New England
, and employs over 8,500 people. Big Y is the 268th-largest private company in the US, according to the 2005 Forbes Magazine "500 Largest Private Companies" list.
and 30 in Connecticut
); many of which are in the metropolitan areas of Springfield
, Worcester
, and Hartford, Connecticut
. Big Y also operates the Table & Vine liquor store in West Springfield
, plus the Fresh Acres Market, a concept mixing an open-air-style farmers' market with upscale food choices, in Springfield. Throughout its region, Big Y competes mostly with Boston
's Stop & Shop
, and to a lesser extent with Boston-based Shaw's and Albany, New York
's Price Chopper chain.
Some Big Ys offer free child care for customers, operating as the Little Y Kids' Club. Big Y also competes by offering "buy one, get two free" sales and special coins redeemable for discounts that change bi-monthly.
Unlike most supermarkets, whose sales run Sunday to Saturday, Big Y's sales week is Thursday to Wednesday, as most Big Y employees get paid Thursdays.
In 2011, Big Y's 75th anniversary, plans included a gala
and a sweepstakes for customers with a top prize of $75,000; the drawing was held at the Big E.
, Franklin
, and Milford, Massachusetts
; according to its website, each town would have a store by 2012. The Lee store opened in November 2011; the chain's newest location. Big Y also announced a new store in Foxborough
, expanding into the Greater Boston
area.
While Big Y has stores near the New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont borders, expansion into these states has not been announced.
In late 2010, Big Y purchased seven stores from A&P, which was abandoning central Connecticut. Four of these (Branford, Mystic, Old Lyme, West Hartford) were re-opened as Big Y World Class Markets, bringing Big Y's Connecticut store count to 29. Another Big Y opened in Meriden, Connecticut
in August 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
supermarket chain. Big Y has stores in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
; it operates under the names "Big Y World Class Market" or "Big Y Supermarket."
In 1936, a young entrepreneur, Paul D'Amour, with aid from his brother Gerald and sisters Ann Marie, Yvette, and Gertrude, purchased the Y Cash Market in the Willimansett section of Chicopee, Massachusetts
Chicopee, Massachusetts
Chicopee is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States of America. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 55,298, making it the second largest city in...
at an intersection where two roads converged at a "Y". On December 12, 1936, the brothers began Y Cash Market, the forerunner of Big Y. The company is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
. Big Y now is run by cousins Charles and Donald D'Amour.
Big Y is one of the largest independently-owned supermarket chains in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, and employs over 8,500 people. Big Y is the 268th-largest private company in the US, according to the 2005 Forbes Magazine "500 Largest Private Companies" list.
Stores
As of October, 2011, Big Y operates 59 supermarkets (29 in MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and 30 in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
); many of which are in the metropolitan areas of Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, and Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. Big Y also operates the Table & Vine liquor store in West Springfield
West Springfield, Massachusetts
The Town of West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 28,391 at the 2010 census...
, plus the Fresh Acres Market, a concept mixing an open-air-style farmers' market with upscale food choices, in Springfield. Throughout its region, Big Y competes mostly with Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
's Stop & Shop
Stop & Shop
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company is a chain of supermarkets located mostly in the northeastern United States. Its main rivals are Shaw's Star Market and Hannaford in New England, while ShopRite and the A&P family of supermarkets are its main competition in New York and New Jersey.- History :Stop...
, and to a lesser extent with Boston-based Shaw's and Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
's Price Chopper chain.
Some Big Ys offer free child care for customers, operating as the Little Y Kids' Club. Big Y also competes by offering "buy one, get two free" sales and special coins redeemable for discounts that change bi-monthly.
Unlike most supermarkets, whose sales run Sunday to Saturday, Big Y's sales week is Thursday to Wednesday, as most Big Y employees get paid Thursdays.
In 2011, Big Y's 75th anniversary, plans included a gala
Gala
-Events and festivities:*A gala, a festivity *A swimming gala is a British/South African term for an amateur swimming competition, often known as a swimming carnival in Australia....
and a sweepstakes for customers with a top prize of $75,000; the drawing was held at the Big E.
Expansion
In 2010, Big Y announced that its expansion included LeeLee, Massachusetts
Lee is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, metropolitan statistical area. The population was 5,943 which was determined in the 2010 census. Lee, which includes the villages of South and East Lee, is part of the Berkshires resort...
, Franklin
Franklin, Massachusetts
The Town of Franklin is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,635 at the 2010 census.-History:Franklin was first settled by Europeans in 1660 and was officially incorporated during the American Revolution. The town was formed from the western part of the town...
, and Milford, Massachusetts
Milford, Massachusetts
Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It had a population of 27,999 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Milford, constituting the center of the town, please see the article Milford ,...
; according to its website, each town would have a store by 2012. The Lee store opened in November 2011; the chain's newest location. Big Y also announced a new store in Foxborough
Foxborough, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,246 people, 6,141 households, and 4,396 families residing in the town. The population density was 809.1 people per square mile . There were 6,299 housing units at an average density of 313.7 per square mile...
, expanding into the Greater Boston
Greater Boston
Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston. Due to ambiguity in usage, the size of the area referred to can be anywhere between that of the metropolitan statistical area of Boston and that of the city's combined statistical area which includes...
area.
While Big Y has stores near the New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont borders, expansion into these states has not been announced.
In late 2010, Big Y purchased seven stores from A&P, which was abandoning central Connecticut. Four of these (Branford, Mystic, Old Lyme, West Hartford) were re-opened as Big Y World Class Markets, bringing Big Y's Connecticut store count to 29. Another Big Y opened in Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
in August 2011.