Big Y Foods has instituted a price freeze on over 10,000 items as a way to help customers financially pinched by the coronavirus pandemic.
Springfield, Mass.-based Big Y said Wednesday that the price hold went into effect on May 1. The regional grocer noted that prices on the listed products may even decrease, and the company will continue to offer sales discounts.
“This is a critical time for our customers, and we wanted to recognize that with more than just words of support,” Michael D’Amour, chief operating officer at Big Y, said in a statement. “We have all been through a tough period, and there are certainly challenges ahead. But we felt it was time to do more to help.”
Items on the list include popular brands of fresh chicken, butter, red and green seedless grapes, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, breakfast cereal, English muffins, cheese, strawberries, Greek yogurt, pizza, orange juice and spring water.
Among its coronavirus safety measures in stores, Big Y has established one-way aisles and added social distancing markers at checkout and installed plexiglass shields for cashiers.
For example, the price of Big Y boneless chicken breast is being held at $2.99 per pound, as are store-brand Big Y butter 16 oz. quarters ($2.99) and Big Y spring water 24-pack 16.9 oz. bottles ($2.99). Among national brands, price freezes include Driscoll strawberries (16 oz.) at $3.99; Kraft Mac & Cheese (7.25 oz.) at $1; Cheerios regular, multigrain and honey nut varieties (select sizes) at $3.49; DiGiorno frozen pizza (select varieties and sizes) at $5.99; Tropicana orange juice (52 oz. all varieties) at $3.99; Skippy peanut butter (select sizes) at $2.49; and Chobani Greek yogurt (5.3 oz.) at 10 for $10.
More products are slated to be added to the list. Big Y added that it has pledged to hold the line on prices for these items despite the current volatility of food prices.
“We are going to do more,” according to D’Amour. “Our customers are like family to us, and we want to help them and the communities we serve.”
Overall, Big Y operates 83 stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut, including 71 Big Y World Class Market supermarkets, one Fresh Acres Market, one Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors store, and 10 Big Y Express gas and convenience locations.
Among its COVID-19 safety measures, Big Y in mid-April began limiting the number of shoppers in stores, with capacity capped below Massachusetts and Connecticut state guidelines. If maximum capacity in a given store is reached at any point, an associate will help customers with lining up outside and ensuring proper social distancing (six feet), the retailer said. Customers also have been asked to limit their shopping trips to one person whenever possible and wear face coverings in accordance with state and/or local regulations. All Big Y employees are required to wear face coverings in stores. In addition, the chain has implemented one-way aisles in stores and added social distancing markers and plexiglass cashier shields at checkout.
The original article can be found at supermarketnews.com
