From a small, struggling cooperative with eight Members all owners of their own grocery stores Wakefern Food Corp., the merchandising and distribution arm for ShopRite, has grown into the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States and the largest employer in New Jersey. The cooperative is comprised of 50 members who individually own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite banner. Today, Wakefern and ShopRite together employ more than 50,000 people throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. At ShopRite, generations of families have served generations of their customers families. Although they have grown from the small Mom and Pop stores of the 1940s, most ShopRite stores are still family owned and operated businesses many with second, third, or even fourth generations involved. All ShopRite owners are members of Wakefern Food Corp., which buys, warehouses and transports products while providing other support services to ensure customer satisfaction. Volume buying enables ShopRite stores to offer their consumers the lowest overall prices, and the greatest value, in the marketplace. Headquartered in Keasbey, New Jersey, Wakefern operates over 2.5 million square feet of grocery and non-food warehousing. Its transportation fleet, one of the largest private fleets on the east coast, consists of 400 tractors and 2,000 trailers, and travels more than 35 million miles annually. For more information on Wakefern Food Corp., please visit www.wakefern.com. ShopRite is dedicated to supporting the communities in its trading areas. ShopRite has been a long time supporter of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, donating food, services, money and contributing hundreds of volunteer hours each year. An additional focus of community support is the education and training of special needs students to prepare them for meaningful careers in the supermarket industry. This innovative and groundbreaking program Supermarket Careers was created by ShopRite in 1989, and is now in place in 42 schools throughout the companys six state area. The program has received local, state and national awards, including the Secretary of Educations Award, the highest honor available to vocational programs. ShopRite is also an annual sponsor of the New Jersey Special Olympics Games, providing logistical, volunteer and food support for these annual events that attract more than 1,800 athletes and 20,000 attendees.
