Wakefern Reveals $14.1B in Retail Sales

Wakefern Food Corp. reported record retail sales of $14.1 billion for the fiscal year ending Sept. 28, representing a 3.9 percent rise from the year-ago period, and $11.4 billion in Wakefern consolidated sales. The news was reported at the retail cooperative's annual shareholder meeting, held Oct. 24 in East Brunswick, N.J.

The Keasbey, N.J.-based co-op opened 10 new ShopRite stores, four new PriceRite stores and one new The Fresh Grocer store during the same period, as well as expanding its “ShopRite from Home” services to 172 stores.

At the meeting, Wakefern also welcomed Charles Gallagher, Joseph Cowhey and Patrick Burns as new co-op members. Gallagher owns and operates the ShopRite of Selden, N.Y.; Cowhey owns and operates the ShopRite of Warminster, Pa.; and Burns owns and operates one ShopRite store in Drexel Hill, Pa., and seven Fresh Grocer locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The Fresh Grocer became a Wakefern member as of Oct 1.

“Since its founding 67 years ago, Wakefern has continued to thrive in an ever-evolving and rapidly changing marketplace,” said Joseph S. Colalillo, chairman and CEO. “As our customers’ needs continue to change, it is no longer enough for our stores to have the same logo to deliver a unified shopping experience. We will – and must – unite in a shared purpose and commitment to our communities, our customers and our associates to build upon past successes and achieve the next level of excellence.”

Also at the meeting, Wakefern shareholders re-elected to the board of directors Joseph S. Colalillo as chairman and CEO; James Sumas, Larri Wolfson and Irv Glass as vice chairmen; Lawrence Inserra Jr. as treasurer; Richard Saker, Jeffrey Brown and Kenneth Capano as assistant treasurers; Dominick J. Romano as secretary; Ned Gladstein, Joel Perlmutter and Steven Ravitz as assistant secretaries; and Rocco Cingari, Robert Clare, Lawrence Collins, Jon Greenfield, Charles Infusino, Bernard Kenny, Vincent Lo Curcio III, Leonard Sitar, Richard Tully and Richard McMenamin. Joseph Sheridan was re-elected as president and COO.

The largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States, Wakefern comprises 50 members who today individually own and operate more than 250 supermarkets under the ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.