Big Y’s Cas Tryba to Retire

Cas Tryba, director of food safety and quality assurance at Big Y for the past 26 years, will retire as of July 26. Credited with creating the food safety department at the Springfield, Mass.-based grocer, Tryba developed extensive food safety training programs, processes and procedures for the New England supermarket chain, as well as a quality assurance program for its suppliers.

As a result of these efforts, Tryba is widely known and respected by industry organizations throughout the United States, in addition to federal, state and local agencies and health departments.

“Food safety is a tremendously important part of our business, particularly given the increasing complexity of our food supply and operations,” said Big Y President and CEO Charles L. D’Amour. “Big Y has been fortunate to have Cas develop our stellar food safety program that has become the standard for our industry. His many industry awards and achievements are testament to his passion and abilities.”

Tryba has been an active participant in, and advisor to, many food industry organizations during his time at Big Y, including the North East Food and Drug Officials Association (NEFDOA), the Conference for Food Protection (CFP), the Food Marketing institute’s Food Protection Committee, Topco’s QA Advisory Council, the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP), the Association of Food & Drug Officials (AFDO), the Massachusetts Food Association Food Safety Committee and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Food Establishment Advisory Committee. In addition, he received the FDA Collaboration Award for his role in reducing risk factors at retail locations.

A graduate of the University Of Massachusetts School Of Public Health, Tryba joined Big Y in 1993, after 12 years as a regional health inspector. He became director of food safety and quality assurance in 2007.

A search is currently underway to find a new director of food safety for the chain.

One of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England, Big Y operates 80 locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut, encompassing 70 supermarkets, 40 pharmacies, Fresh Acres Market, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors, and nine Big Y Express gas and convenience locations, with more than 11,000 employees. The company is No. 37 on Progressive Grocer’s 2018 Super 50 list of the top grocers in the United States.