Springfield, Massachusetts-based Big Y Foods Inc. has announced a multi-million dollar investment to increase starting pay rates for all clerks, customer service, fresh food and center store specialists and assistant department managers as of June 26.
As a result of these rate changes, almost 7,600 of the company’s retail workforce will receive a pay increase, assisting them with the rising cost of living. The hourly store operations teams work in the Big Y Markets, as well as Table & Vine and Big Y Express gas and convenience stores.
Once implemented, all retail Big Y employees will be paid above minimum wage in Massachusetts and Connecticut. An average Big Y supermarket is supported by employees working both full-time and part-time hours, including specialized positions such as cake decorators, floral specialists and different levels of management. Members of upper management are not included in this increase.
“We are proud to be investing in our hard-working store teams who have been on the front lines these past two years to support our customers and our community,” said Charles L. D’Amour, Big Y president and CEO.
“We know that household budgets are being squeezed by inflation. We hope that by boosting their hourly rates, we will help them to weather these tough times as we recognize and appreciate their efforts and their loyalty.”
Recent employee feedback indicates that Big Y’s store teams have a high level of appreciation for the teamwork and cooperation they experience with their peers. Currently, 3,282 employees have more than 10 years of service and 7,409 have more than five years.
Big Y recently held one-on-one career pathing meetings at all locations for more than 3,000 individual employees. The company reviews and updates all of their benefit packages regularly.
They have three established employee resource groups to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, leadership development for women and a multi-generational workforce. They are also piloting additional college internship programs with local colleges.
Big Y Foods Inc. is one of the largest independently-owned supermarket chains in New England. It operates 84 locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut including 71 supermarkets, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors and 13 Big Y Express gas and convenience locations with almost 12,000 employees.
The company has been recognized by Forbes as a Best-in-State Employer in Massachusetts and Connecticut for the past three years, as well as 2018 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.”
For more information, visit bigy.com.
