Wakefern Posts Record Retail Sales of $16B

At Wakefern Food Corp.’s annual shareholder meeting on Oct. 27 in East Brunswick, N.J., the retailer cooperative reported record retail sales of $16 billion for the 52-week fiscal year ending Oct. 1, a 4.2 percent rise from the previous year. The company opened 11 new ShopRite stores, two The Fresh Grocer stores, one Price Rite and one new-format store, Dearborn Market, during the same period.

“Wakefern marks its 70th anniversary this year, and we are proud of our history of success and service in the communities where our family-owned and operated supermarkets are located,” CEO Joseph S. Colalillo told 900 attendees at the Hilton in East Brunswick. “We’ve grown and changed a lot in the past 70 years, but our founding entrepreneurial spirit and principles remain the same. We will continue to grow and innovate to provide our customers with the very best shopping experience.”

Additionally, Wakefern President and COO Joe Sheridan discussed the company’s growth and accomplishments while launching ShopRite’s Wholesome Pantry private label line of products made with simple, clean ingredients. “From our retail dietitian program to our expanding private label lines and digital presence, Wakefern Food Corp. and our supermarket banners are meeting the future head-on to provide great customer experiences in store and online,” noted Sheridan.

Colalillo went on to mark the retirement of two members from Wakefern’s board of directors: Robert Clare, president of the ShopRite of Oakland Inc., and Richard McMenamin, chairman of McMenamin Family ShopRite LLC. Both will remain active in their respective companies and with the co-op. Joining the board in their place are new members Sean McMenamin, president of McMenamin Family ShopRite LLC, and Shawn Ravitz, VP of administration for Supermarkets of Cherry Hill Inc.

Wakefern shareholders re-elected to the board of directors during the meeting were Joseph Colalillo, chairman and CEO; Larri Wolfson, Irv Glass and Dominick J. Romano, vice chairmen; Lawrence Inserra Jr., treasurer; Jeffrey Brown, assistant treasurer; Richard Saker, secretary; and Ned Gladstein and Nicholas Sumas, assistant secretaries; as well as Jordan Coe, Lawrence Collins Sr., Harry Garafalo, Jon Greenfield, Charles Infusino, Vincent Lo Curcio III, Leonard Sitar and Richard Tully. Sheridan was also re-elected as president and COO.

Keasby, N.J.-based Wakefern consists of 50 members that independently own and operate 339 supermarkets under the ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer, Price Rite and Dearborn Market banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Together with its member companies, Wakefern employs more than 70,000 asociates.

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