Wakefern Food

Wakefern Food Corp. is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States, founded in 1946 by eight independent grocers in Newark, New Jersey. The cooperative was established to help these grocers compete with larger supermarkets by pooling their purchasing power. Today, Wakefern includes nearly 50 member companies that operate over 380 retail supermarkets across New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Wakefern's member companies operate under various banners, including ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, and The Fresh Grocer. ShopRite, adopted as the unified brand name in 1951, has grown to nearly 280 locations. The cooperative provides extensive support services to its members, including private label brand development, advertising, and pharmacy support. Wakefern also emphasizes community involvement, having donated over $60 million to combat hunger through its ShopRite Partners In Caring program. Together with its members, Wakefern employs nearly 80,000 people and reported retail sales of $17.8 billion for the fiscal year ending October 2, 2021.