Page 5 - BusinessWest January 22, 2024

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Michael D’Amour says he can envision 100 or more supermarkets by the time Big Y turns 100 in 2036.
in terms of milestone celebrations and leadership changes, but also when it comes to challenges and opportunities for continued growth of a chain that now boasts more than 70 supermarkets as well as Table & Vine, which specializes in wines and liquors, and Big Y Express gas and convenience stores.
He said the company remains in a strong growth mode, and he can envison perhaps 100 or more stores by the time of the company’s centennial through a likely mix of organic growth and acquisition.
Bossie agreed, noting that, beyond continued growth, the com- pany will have several other focal points in the years to come, espe- cially in the broad realm of workforce.
The severe crunch that came in the wake of the pandemic when companies across all sectors, but especially this one, struggled to fill vacancies and fully staff stores is mostly in
the rear-view mirror, but other challenges
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continue, including those involved with meeting the needs of a changing, more demanding workforce.
“There have been massive changes there since the pandemic, but even before then,” he explained. “There are greater expectations, and greater needs, now when it comes to the tools they need to do their jobs.”
As for Charlie D’Amour, 72, who had become the face of the company over the past several years, he said will step into what will mostly be an advisory role, one with a job description that he will write as he goes.
“I have an opportunity to stay some- what connected with the business but also get out of the way,” he said of this new role. “There is something unique about
a family business; it’s hard to completely walk away from it. For so many years, and from a very young age, I’ve been involved with the company. I’m part of the compa- ny, and the company is part of me.”
“I have an opportunity to stay somewhat connected with the business but also get out of the way. There
is something unique about a family business; it’s hard to completely walk away from it. For so many years, and from a very young age, I’ve been involved with the company. I’m part of the company, and the company is part of me.”
For this issue, BusinessWest talked
with senior management at Big Y about these changes in leader- ship and what will come next for the one of the region’s largest employers.
Produce Department
Michael D’Amour told BusinessWest that, while he — like other members of the second, third, and now fourth generations of the family — grew up in Big Y stores, handling a number of different assignments, he didn’t exactly set out to make this a career.
“In college, I was thinking about more about criminal psychology and things like that,” he said, adding that, when he returned home
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