Big Y Installing Dairy Doors

As part of its continuing efforts to aid the environment and improve the customer experience, Big Y World Class Markets is installing dairy case doors in 25 stores this spring. The doors will allow up to a 70 percent reduction in energy consumption over the locations’ existing open-air customer self-service cases. In addition, all case lighting at the 25 stores will be changed to LED bulbs.

As well as benefiting the earth, closed doors seal the cold air in more effectively, resulting in better product quality, as well as greater comfort for shoppers.

'Added Value'

"We feel these enhancements provide an added value to the customers and our contribution to caring for the environment," noted Gary Kuchyt, manager of energy and sustainability for Springfield, Mass.-based Big Y Foods, one of the largest independently owned grocers in New England, with 61 locations throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Big Y installed the doors in six locations last year, and plans to have 27 more completed by the end of 2014. The grocer aims to perform the conversions at the rest of the chain in 2015-16.