After 26 years at Big Y, Cas Tryba, director of food safety and quality assurance has announced his retirement as of July 26. Tryba is credited with creating the food-safety department at Big Y. During his tenure, he developed extensive food-safety training programs, processes and procedures for the chain along with a quality assurance program for suppliers. His efforts have established Big Y’s food-safety program as one of the best in the country and ensured that its customers receive fresh and safe products from some of the cleanest stores in the industry.

“Food safety is a tremendously important part of our business, particularly given the increasing complexity of our food supply and operations," said Charles L. D’Amour, Big Y’s president and chief executive officer. "Big Y has been fortunate to have Cas develop our stellar food-safety program that has become the standard for our industry. His many industry awards and achievements are testament to his passion and abilities.”

Tryba has been an active participant and advisor to many food industry organizations during his tenure at Big Y. He is a member of the board and the sole industry representative on the North East Food & Drug Officials Association, a member of The Conference for Food Protection, a past chair and member of the Food Marketing institute’s Food Protection Committee, chair of Topco’s QA Advisory Council, and a member of the International Association of Food Protection, Association of Food & Drug Officials, Massachusetts Food Association Food Safety Committee and Massachusetts Department of Public Health Food Establishment Advisory Committee. In addition, he has been a recipient of the FDA Collaboration Award for his role in reducing risk factors at retail locations.

Tryba is a graduate of the University Of Massachusetts School Of Public Health and joined Big Y in 1993, following 12 years as a regional health inspector. He was appointed director of food safety and quality assurance in 2007.

Big Y is currently conducting a search to find a new director of food safety for the chain’s 80 locations, including 70 World Class supermarkets. Qualified candidates may contact Kecia Bossie at bossiek@bigy.com.