New Englanders are very specific about a few things. They’re careful about their coffee, weather preparedness, and grocery stores! Big Y and Stop & Shop are two of the biggest grocery retailers in New England, with 72 and 406 locations, respectively. Stop & Shop’s slogan, “honest values are what Stop & Shop is all about,” and Big Y’s slogan, “Only the best for your family… from ours,” prove that both retailers care about the products they offer their customers.
Stop & Shop is a better grocery store than Big Y. Stop & Shop offers better quality products for more affordable prices and has a more appealing rewards system that makes repeat customers feel valued.
Whether you live in New England or are planning to visit soon, you’ll likely come across both grocery stores. This guide will help you decide where to shop by discussing each retailer’s product variety, prices, and quality.
Big Y
Big Y began as an entrepreneurial venture by Paul D’Armour in 1936. Paul purchased Y Cash Market in Williamsett, Massachusetts, with the dream of bringing personal service, quality, value, and commitment to the local community to the local community. In 1952, Paul and his business partner opened another, much larger store that included more variety than the original Y Cash Market. They decided to name it Big Y Supermarket and saw quick success in this location.
They continued expanding and opening new Big Y Supermarket locations throughout Massachusetts, and in the 1970s, they began using private brand labels to offer customers even further discounts.
Big Y released its Express Savings Club in 1990, which eliminated the need for paper coupons in the store while still providing customers discounts on hundreds of items in the store. Big Y continues to be a family-owned and operated business to this day.
Stop & Shop
Stop & Shop began with a single, small grocery store in 1892. The supermarket chain quickly grew to an impressive 86 stores by 1942, which is when they officially adopted the name Stop & Shop. The slogan for this supermarket is, “honest values are what Stop & Shop is all about,” and this has been their catchphrase since the 1970s. This supermarket focuses on providing quality products at low prices and has grown to 406 locations throughout New England.
Comparison Questions (Big Y vs Stop & Shop)
Is Big Y Cheaper Than Stop & Shop?
Finding the most affordable prices is a massive benefit in a world of ever-rising prices. Big Y and Stop & Shop have private label brands created with the purpose of offering their customers the lowest prices possible. The best way to determine which supermarket offers the best prices is to compare the cost of similar products under their private labels, which is exactly what we’ve done!
Check out this table to see how Big Y and Stop & Shop compare.
| Product | Big Y Price | Stop & Shop Price |
| Frozen Orange Juice | $2.89 | $3.39 |
| Sandwich Bread | $1.89 | $1.49 |
| Gallon of Milk | $4.39 | $4.29 |
| Beef Patties (80% Lean) | $6.17/lb | $4.79/lb |
| Cookies (Bakery) | $0.25/each | $0.25/each |
We compared a variety of products to see which supermarket offers the most affordable prices. Stop & Shop tends to have the lowest prices across most categories, and their price for beef patties is far lower than Big Y’s! You’ll definitely save money when you shop at Stop & Shop.
Does Big Y Offer Better Quality Products Than Stop & Shop?
Customers praise both Big Y and Stop & Shop for providing good quality products for discounted prices. Each store makes an effort to provide the freshest produce, meats, and dairy products possible.
We took a look at the FDA recall database to see which supermarket experienced more recalls in the past year. What we found proves that Stop & Shop offers better quality products!
Stop & Shop experienced three recalls in 2022. Two of their recalled items were food products; Two-Bite Brownies and Brie and Camembert Cheeses. Their third recalled item was The Red Pill.
Big Y experienced 11 recalls in 2022. That’s a huge difference in quality from Stop & Shop! Big Y recalled the following items.
- Vanilla, Ginger, and Mocha Chip Ice Cream
- Royal Ice Cream
- Sodium Chloride Tablets
- Kinder Products
- Elite Confectionary Products
- Mrs Millers Homemade Jams
- Rich’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Big Olaf Ice Cream
- Keswick Creamery Products
- Brie and Camembert Cheeses
- Chocolate Chunk Granola
With such a large difference in quality, it’s clear Stop & Shop is the best place to shop!
Does Stop & Shop or Big Y Have A Better Rewards Program?
Rewards programs are an excellent incentive for keeping loyal customers coming back and making them feel appreciated. Big Y and Stop & Shop each have excellent rewards programs, but there are a few differences.
To participate in the Big Y rewards program, you must create a myBigY account.
Here are the benefits you’ll get when you sign up for an account:
- Receive money off of various products when purchased in-store or online
- Receive special digital coupons and other offers specifically tailored to you based on the brands you’ve bought and your shopping history
- Create a digital shopping list on the app and compare prices
- Earn $0.10 off a gallon of gas at Big Y Express locations for every $100 you spend on groceries
- Use mobile checkout to avoid waiting in lines
The Stop & Shop rewards program also offers plenty of benefits!
Here’s what you’ll enjoy with the Stop & Shop Go Rewards:
- Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend on groceries
- Receive discounts on in-store and online purchases
- Receive special rewards and offers tailored to you based on your purchasing history and brands you’ve bought
- Redeem points in exchange for free items or money off your gas bill at Stop & Shop gas stations. You can get $0.10 off per 100 points
- Use the ScanIt app for mobile checkout to avoid waiting in line
The rewards programs for Stop & Shop and Big Y are very similar when you break them down. Each allows you to receive money off your grocery and gas bill, receive discounts on your purchases, use mobile checkout, and receive special discounts and offers.
However, Stop & Shop’s reward program is slightly better than Big Y’s. Their digital coupons tend to offer better savings than Big Y’s, and they have multiple options for customers to redeem their points. Points can be used for money off your grocery or gas bill or to receive free items or other special offers.
The Verdict– What’s the Better Grocery Store?
Big Y and Stop & Shop are two of the biggest supermarket chains in New England. Each supermarket offers a similar variety of products, but there are a few things that make Stop & Shop the better grocery store. Stop & Shop generally carries better quality products than Big Y, has a better rewards system, has lower prices, and offers more locations. When you’re looking to grab some groceries in New England, you should give Stop & Shop a try. Make sure to sign up for their rewards system to get the best discounts!