Big Y Expands DC
Big Y Foods, Inc. has doubled the space at its distribution center in Chicopee, Mass. The regional New England grocer added 100,000 square feet of warehouse racking providing 450 bays, and 4,692 pallet positions for storage of over 1,500 Big Y branded items, some national brands, and seasonal product for distribution to all 58 of the company's retail stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The now 200,000-square-foot building was first built in 1982 as a Styrofoam manufacturing facility, and was later converted to warehouse space, before being taken over by Big Y in 2003.
In addition to the Chicopee DC, the chain operates a 163,000-square-foot facility in its hometown of Springfield, Mass. That facility distributes all fresh produce, floral, candy, light bulbs, spices, deli, food service, fresh dairy, and fresh seafood for all of the company's stores.
Both DCs operate around the clock with a combined staff of almost 150 employees, and, as part of their recycling efforts, collect over two full trailers of cardboard nightly from all retail locations, amounting to 20 million pounds annually, along with a half-million pounds of paper and 175,000 pounds of plastic.
Chicopee mayor Michael D. Bissonnette, state representative Joseph Wagner, state senator Stephen Buoniconti, and other local community leaders will attend an opening celebration and facility tour of the expanded facility on the afternoon of Oct. 8, during which a donation of 2,000 pounds of food will be made to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Big Y spokeswoman Kathy DeNardo told Progressive Grocer that new associates were hired, positions were restructured, and trucking was increased at the Chicopee DC.
Family-owned and -operated Big Y operates 58 stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and employs over 9,800 associates.
The now 200,000-square-foot building was first built in 1982 as a Styrofoam manufacturing facility, and was later converted to warehouse space, before being taken over by Big Y in 2003.
In addition to the Chicopee DC, the chain operates a 163,000-square-foot facility in its hometown of Springfield, Mass. That facility distributes all fresh produce, floral, candy, light bulbs, spices, deli, food service, fresh dairy, and fresh seafood for all of the company's stores.
Both DCs operate around the clock with a combined staff of almost 150 employees, and, as part of their recycling efforts, collect over two full trailers of cardboard nightly from all retail locations, amounting to 20 million pounds annually, along with a half-million pounds of paper and 175,000 pounds of plastic.
Chicopee mayor Michael D. Bissonnette, state representative Joseph Wagner, state senator Stephen Buoniconti, and other local community leaders will attend an opening celebration and facility tour of the expanded facility on the afternoon of Oct. 8, during which a donation of 2,000 pounds of food will be made to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Big Y spokeswoman Kathy DeNardo told Progressive Grocer that new associates were hired, positions were restructured, and trucking was increased at the Chicopee DC.
Family-owned and -operated Big Y operates 58 stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and employs over 9,800 associates.