Big Y’s Sushi Benefits Japan Relief Fund

As Americans continue to follow the distressing news coming out of Japan, various segments of the industry are stepping up to help in innovative ways, including Big Y World Class Markets, in conjunction with its fresh sushi supplier, Advanced Fresh Concepts Corp. (AFC), which teamed to donated 10 percent of all of its sushi sales on Saturday April 2, 2011, to the Japan Relief Fund.

According to AFC, 100 percent of the dollars from the sale were donated to the Japan Relief Fund and forwarded to experienced, non-governmental relief agencies in Japan that have a proven track record of emergency humanitarian relief as well as aid for restoration and development of destroyed areas.

According to Michael D’Amour, VP/Fresh Foods for the Springfield, Mass.-based Big Y, “We are proud to partner with AFC to assist in the relief efforts in Japan because every little bit helps. We are confident that our customers and employees will embrace this effort as they have done for so many others in the past.”

AFC has already made a corporate donation to support the humanitarian aid to assist Japan in contending with the rapidly evolving crisis in the aftermath of the events of March 11, as well as the growing radiation concern developing from the damaged nuclear power plants in northeastern Japan. None of the food used to make this sushi is sourced from Japan.

Big Y’s alliance with AFC is above and beyond its ongoing chainwide collection efforts for the American Red Cross that began three days after the devastation and which to date has surpassed $60,000.

With 61 stores throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, Big Y has been selling sushi in their markets since 2005. Over the past decade, sales of sushi have grown tremendously since it is made with healthy ingredients such as fresh fish, rice and vegetables. Popular sushi varieties at Big Y include California Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Eel Roll, Vegetable Combo, Cream Cheese Roll and Shoreline Combo, just to name a few.

In addition to supplying fresh sushi at most Big Y markets throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut, AFC has numerous other markets throughout the country that participated in April 2 fundraiser.

Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D’Amour, the store was named after an intersection in Chicopee, Massachusetts where two roads converge to form a “Y”.