Big Y Foods kicks off myPicks online grocery service

Big Y Foods is ushering in a new e-commerce platform with the launch of Big Y myPicks online ordering.

Providing curbside pickup, the myPicks service is powered by a 12,000-square-foot automated micro-fulfillment center (MFC) next to the Big Y World Class Market store in Chicopee, Mass. Springfield, Mass.-based Big Y said it has been testing myPicks in recent weeks, and online orders for more than 7,000 customers a week will be able to be fulfilled once the MFC becomes fully operational.

Big Y customers access myPicks by clicking on “Shop Online” under the “Shop” menu on the grocer’s website and then selecting “Big Y myPicks.” Shoppers must set up a Big Y digital account to make purchases through the service. No additional fees are charged for orders of $40 or more, and in support of the service’s launch Big Y is offering customers $20 off their first order of $60 or more.

“We are constantly searching for ways to improve the shopping experience for our customers,” Big Y Foods Chief Operating Officer Michael D’Amour said in a statement. “They’ve taught us the importance of having our own e-commerce option this past year, as demand soared due to the coronavirus pandemic. We are excited to launch our new online shopping service for those customers interested in e-commerce. We look forward to expanding our digital capabilities in the future as we roll out to other locations throughout our marketing area.”

Related:Big Y Foods promotes pair of D’Amour family members

The Chicopee MFC houses 20,000 of the chain’s top-selling products, Big Y said. Categories include bread and bakery; dairy; deli; meat; produce; seafood; baby and child care; baking needs and cooking; nonrefrigerated beverages; breakfast; condiments and sauces; frozen; household; personal care; pet care; rice, grains, pasta and beans; snacks and candy; and soup and canned goods.

Plans call for customers to also be able to pick up myPicks online orders from lockers in Big Y’s Cooley Street Springfield, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Ludlow, South Hadley, Westfield, Westfield Shops, West Springfield and Wilbraham stores in Massachusetts by the end of this year. Groceries will be held in temperature-controlled totes inside the secure lockers until picked up.

Big Y myPicks comes from the retailer’s partnership with Waltham, Mass.-based automation specialist Takeoff Technologies to build the Chicopee MFC. Plans for the physical order-assembly area in Chicopee began in late 2019 and construction was completed last fall, Big Y said. For myPicks, trained Big Y e-commerce associates select fresh-food items to supplement the automated portion of each order.

Related:Big Y Foods to build Takeoff Technologies-powered automated warehouse

Other supermarket retailers with Takeoff-powered MFC include Albertsons Cos. (Safeway), Ahold Delhaize USA (Stop & Shop), Wakefern Food Corp. (ShopRite), Florida grocer Sedano’s Supermarkets more facilities with those grocery retailers are planned. This year, Takeoff and Loblaw Cos. (Real Canadian Superstore).

Big Y also provides online grocery delivery service via Instacart and DoorDash. Overall, the retailer operates 85 stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut, including 71 Big Y World Class Market supermarkets, one Fresh Acres Market, one Table & Vine Fine Wines & Liquors store, and 12 Big Y Express fuel and convenience locations.