New Jersey-based Wakefern Food Corp. reported retail sales of $20.7 billion for the 52-
week fiscal year ending Sept. 27 – a 3.1% increase from the prior year.
That was one of the biggest takeaways from the cooperative’s annual shareholders’
meeting last week in Parsippany, where 500 people including shareholders, store
management and Wakefern teammates were in attendance.
Wakefern officials explained how they are leveraging technology, new growth
opportunities and the power of its family-owned member companies to ensure success
for generations to come.
Cooperative members opened three state-of-the-art ShopRite stores and one The Fresh
Grocer during the same period. Wakefern also acquired grocer Morton Williams, adding
17 stores in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Jersey City to the cooperative.
“We are embracing bold ideas, exploring new business models, and seizing
opportunities — all with a clear focus on building a sustainable future,” Wakefern
Chairman Sean McMenamin told the audience. “The entrepreneurial spirit and bold
thinking that established Wakefern nearly 80 years ago – building us into the largest
retailer-owned supermarket cooperative – will continue to guide us in the future.”
In addition to Wakefern Members and retail and corporate teams in attendance at
yesterday’s meeting, thousands of teammates across the cooperative joined virtually to
hear leadership report on the 2025 fiscal year and share plans for 2026, ahead of the
cooperative’s 80th anniversary.
“We’re focused on growing our brands and wholesale business and expanding market
share — without losing sight of what makes us unique,” Wakefern President Mike
Stigers said. “We will continue to unlock our full potential and push the limits of what is
possible while never taking our eye off our core business and family-owned member
companies.”
As part of the cooperative’s vision-forward plan, Wakefern welcomed family-founded
New York City grocer Morton Williams to the cooperative in 2025. The move will
preserve Morton Williams’ rich legacy and deep neighborhood connections while
leveraging Wakefern’s logistical and wholesale resources and retail expertise.
It follows the 2024 acquisition of Philadelphia-based specialty grocer Di Bruno Bros. and
brings Wakefern’s family of supermarket banners to eight, including ShopRite, Price
Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, Morton
Williams, Di Bruno Bros. and Dearborn Market.
The cooperative also added new wholesale customers this year while continuing to
implement innovative technology and AI to enhance the shopping experience, both in-
store and online.
During the meeting, leadership congratulated Wakefern Members for the investments
they made in building new stores and remodeling others. Wakefern also reaffirmed its
commitment to the communities where its supermarket banners operate. The
cooperative continued its fight against food insecurity through its signature hunger-
fighting initiative, ShopRite Partners In Caring, and expanded its longtime partnership
with the LPGA.
Wakefern and ShopRite gave out a record $1.8 million in grants to charitable
organizations at this year’s ShopRite LPGA Classic while launching new initiatives
including a scholarship program for students, more sponsorships for athletes on the
LPGA Tour and a special TeamSmile dental care clinic in conjunction with Colgate that
helped more than 140 local children at this year’s ShopRite LPGA Classic.
McMenamin announced the retirement of three longtime Members from Wakefern’s
Board of Directors: Irv Glass, Glass Gardens; Ned Gladstein, Sunrise ShopRite, and
Larri Wolfson of the ShopRite of Lincoln Park. He thanked them for their decades of
invaluable service in helping make Wakefern one of the strongest retailers in the
northeast.
The Chairman’s Award went to Paul Patten, an industry veteran and Wakefern’s Group
Vice President of Center Store with 43 years of service to the cooperative. The special
recognition is presented during the annual meeting to honor individuals who have made
exceptional contributions to Wakefern.
“Paul’s leadership and vision helped drive Wakefern’s success over the years, but his
kindness, empathy, and humor have shaped his friendships and relationships in this
industry. Paul is a reminder of how our people are always the most important part of our
business,” McMenamin said.
Wakefern shareholders elected to the Board of Directors at the Oct. 16 meeting include:
Sean McMenamin, chairman; Dominick J. Romano, vice chairman; Marshall Klein,
Treasurer, Lawrence Inserra, Jr., and Patrick Burns, assistant treasurers; Richard
Saker, secretary, and Shawn Ravitz and Jordan Coe, assistant secretaries; Sandra
Brown; Thomas Cingari; Joseph Colalillo; Geoffrey Eickhoff; Harry Garafalo; Jon
Greenfield; Andrew Kent; David Maniaci; Jonathan Slawsby; Leonard Sitar; John J.
Sumas, and David Zallie. Mike Stigers was also appointed as President.
