Member News

Cingari Family ShopRite, which owns and operates 12 ShopRite locations in Connecticut, is introducing a new “Cingari Family Markets” identity and a range of new, branded products.

Additionally, Cingari Family Markets will open two remodeled stores on June 17-18 – the ShopRite of Commerce Street and Grade A Market on Newfield Avenue in Stamford, Connecticut.

The ShopRite of Commerce Street, located at 1990 W Main St., will reopen on June 17 at a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. with Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons and members of the chamber of commerce. The community celebration will include family activities, a balloon artist, cupcake decorating and food samplings.

The supermarket has an upgraded, sleek exterior facade, modern interior décor and transformed produce, meat, seafood and bakery departments. The store also will feature “The Grill,” a new dine-in and take-out experience, a dedicated cheese monger, full-service butcher, expanded take-and-bake seafood options and a beer and craft brew center.

“We are thrilled to open the doors to a brand new shopping destination,” said Tom Cingari Sr., president and CEO of Cingari Family Markets. “The renovations have allowed us to create an unmatched experience with incredible service, quality and convenience for our customers.”

The Cingari family also will celebrate the opening of its renovated Grade A Market store at 9 a.m. on June 18 at 563 Newfield Ave. in Stamford. A Boars Head food truck will be on-site on grand reopening day to serve hot dogs and other samples to customers.

The store refresh brings updated décor and enhancements to the produce, seafood, floral and meat departments, as well as sustainable refrigerators and freezers throughout the store.

“The Newfield Avenue store has been an area staple for decades,” Cingari said. “These upgrades will allow us to continue providing the outstanding service and convenience customers expect, now within a completely modernized shopping environment.”

In addition to the remodeled stores, the grocer has also launched a range of gourmet prepared foods and products marketed under the Cingari Family Markets brand, including:

• Ready-to-eat, restaurant-quality prepared meals;
• Fresh-cut, pre-packaged produce;
• Read to cook, marinated and seasoned premium meats;
• Italian-imported organic extra virgin olive oil;
• Italian-imported organic balsamic vinegar;
• Jarred marinara sauce;
• Jarred vodka sauce;
• Organic coffees; and
• Locally-brewed beers.

The chef-created line reflects the Cingari family’s Italian heritage and its decades-long commitment to quality and excellence. It also features a newly designed Cingari Family Markets’ logo inspired by the family business’ origin.

“The Cingari Family Markets products pay homage to our family’s history, and the new logos are inspired by the original design, materials and colors my grandfather used for the very first store, while embracing a modern aesthetic,” Cingari said.

“Everything we do is built on the expertise and heritage of our family, now spanning four generations. As new Cingari generations come in, we modernize our approach to meet the needs of our customers while staying true to our core values.”

Family-owned and operated for more than 90 years, Cingari Family Markets owns 10 ShopRite stores and two Grade A Market supermarkets across southwestern Connecticut.

Original article found at The Shelby Report.

Big Y has been making significant strides in enhancing its stores across the region, opening 26 locations since 2022. These remodels align with the company’s broader strategy to focus on sustainability and modernize its retail spaces to create a more enjoyable shopping experience.

The new store design incorporates modern elements to inspire guests and reflect each store’s local community. The remodeled stores have been strategically laid out to benefit shoppers and associates, streamlining operations and creating a more pleasant environment. They have also added major energy efficiency upgrades across Connecticut and Massachusetts.

“Whenever we remodel or build new stores, we always try to upgrade to energy efficient equipment, motors, refrigeration systems, etc.,” said Maggie D’Amour, senior manager of environmental social governance.

“Big Y’s commitment to sustainability and community-focused design is evident in these remodels. As we continue to invest in our stores, we aim to meet customers wherever they are, providing a modern, highly-connected shopping experience.”

Big Y has executed the following in each store it has remodeled:

• High efficiency rooftop and refrigeration systems;
• LED lighting interior and exterior (95 percent of stores);
• Light dimming systems;
• Energy Star certified equipment;
• Building energy management systems;
• Night curtains or glass door retrofits on open refrigerated cases;
• High-efficiency motors;
• Capture and utilization of waste heat;
• Cycling anti-sweat heaters;
• Waterless urinals;
• Low-flow water controls on sinks; and
• Energy-efficient hand dryers.

As a result, these stores are saving 9.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by removing 840 gasoline-powered vehicles from area roads for a year.

In addition to the remodeled stores, Big Y also installed a 1.4-megawatt solar array on the rooftop of its new fresh and local distribution center. The installation is comprised of 3,100 solar panels and the renewable energy generated by the system will offset about 70 percent of the distribution center’s electric requirements.

Expanded in 2021, Big Y’s fresh and local distribution center provides local farmers and food producers with a one-stop location that saves them time and money as they don’t need to deliver to individual stores. In addition to supporting their communities, farms and other small businesses, it saves travel time, thus cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions. It also serves as a hub for all fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year.

Over the past three years, there has been a company-wide effort to be Earth-friendly. These initiatives demonstrate the commitment to expanding solar energy adoption and addressing environmental challenges. Overall, these changes have reduced its total energy consumption by more than 17,800,000 kWh.

Original article found at the Shelby Report.

Upside, a digital marketplace for brick-and-mortar grocers, has established a long-term agreement and an enhanced tech integration with Northeast grocery store chain Price Chopper/Market32. This move comes after their initial partnership resulted in 500,000 incremental transactions from 50,000 customers.

“Thanks to Upside, we’ve made significant progress in attracting new customers and encouraging our existing ones to consolidate their food shopping with us,” said Sean Weiss, Price Chopper/Market 32’s VP of marketing. “Deepening our partnership stands to further accelerate that growth.”

Upside and Price Chopper/Market 32 aim to build on their previous success with the rollout of Check-in, an new receipt-less experience designed to bolster the impact of the chain’s AdvantEdge loyalty program by improving user reconciliation rates.

Further, Upside’s recently implemented direct data feed is expected to enhance Price Chopper/Market 32’s loyalty program. According to initial findings, Upside has effectively converted 25% of non-loyalty Upside users into AdvantEdge members who now make around one additional visit per month and spend more incrementally.

“In the face of heightened competition and consumer challenges stemming from inflation, Price Chopper/Market 32 sought concrete methods to strengthen its sales strategy,” noted Tyler Renaghan, VP of grocery at Washington, D.C.-based Upside. “Our partnership with them has proven mutually beneficial, enhancing both the company’s bottom line and consumer satisfaction. By introducing unique, profitable promotions, the collaboration has boosted Price Chopper/Market 32’s sales while helping value-conscious consumers navigate an uncertain economic climate.”

Upside also conducted a survey of its users regarding the partnership. The findings showed that the customers not only became enthusiastic promoters of the store, but also tended to spend more and said that they would continue shopping at Price Chopper/Market 32 because of its partnership with Upside.

More than 30 million people have access to Upside promotions through its platform and partner apps. According to the company, it has delivered to retailers more than $1.5 billion in incremental profit so far.

Schenectady, N.Y.-based Price Chopper/Market 32 operates 130 Price Chopper and Market 32 grocery stores and one Market Bistro, employing 16,000 associates in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Parent company Northeast Grocery Inc. is No. 45 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2023 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.

Original article found at Progressive Grocer.

The board of directors of Big Y Foods Inc. has revealed that Charles L. D’Amour will become executive chairman of the board, while the roles of president and CEO will transition to Michael P. D’Amour, and those of EVP and COO will move to Richard D. Bossie.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Big Y Foods Inc. is growing its convenience store footprint in Connecticut. The supermarket chain opened its 15th and 16th Big Y Express fuel and c-stores, located at 50 Main Street in Somers, Conn., and 241 Hazard Ave. in Enfield, Conn.

The new sites bring the total number of Big Y Express locations in the Nutmeg State to six, reported Convenience Store News sister publication Progressive Grocer.

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Providence, Rhode Island-based United Natural Foods Inc. is using its network to help emerging brands expand distribution with UNFI’s customer base to better reach North American consumers. (more…)

Geissler’s Supermarket held a grand reopening at the end of February at its store in Agawam, Massachusetts. (more…)

Jersey City, New Jersey-based Goya Foods is accepting applications for its annual Culinary Arts and Food Science Scholarships.

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Quincy, Massachusetts-based Stop & Shop has collected and donated more than $1.7 million for the American Cancer Society to support the fight against breast cancer.

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