Dive Brief:
- Supermarket chain Big Y Foods will open its 16th and 17th Big Y Express convenience stores in Somers and Enfield, Connecticut, on July 15, according to an emailed announcement.
- Both locations will feature eight fueling stations in the forecourt, as well as bean-to-cup coffee, grab-and-go snacks and a variety of beverages inside the stores, according to the announcement. They will be open until 10 p.m. every day.
- Big Y opened its first Express c-store in Lee, Massachusetts, in 2013. Its newest locations will be its fifth and sixth in Connecticut, with the rest being in Massachusetts.
Dive Insight:
Although an under discussed part of the broader retail industry, grocers with c-stores and fueling stations have been around for years. And experts say these operators have some unique advantages when it comes to driving loyalty between their food and convenience properties.
By opening these c-stores, Big Y continues its quest to help customers save on fuel and make quick, convenient shopping trips, CEO Charles D’Amour said in the announcement. Big Y has already begun hiring for management and part-time positions for both locations.
“We are always looking to bring our customers even more, especially during these challenging times,” he said.
Through the company’s myBigY loyalty program, customers can receive 5 cents off per gallon of fuel, as well as an incremental $1.50 savings per gallon based upon their grocery purchases at Big Y supermarkets. Fuel rewards are automatically loaded to users’ accounts and are applied at the pump.
Springfield, Massachusetts-based Big Y Foods is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England, with locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut.
