Wakefern Food Corp.

Following World War II, the end of food rationing and the lifting of price controls marked the beginning of a challenging time for the independent grocer. During the war, customer loyalty to independe...nt grocers was strong, but afterward, the bigger self-service supermarkets were offering a wider selection at lower prices, and frugal shoppers took notice. In 1946, in an effort to assist these struggling grocers, a sales representative from Del Monte Foods introduced eight independent grocers from Newark, New Jersey, to the concept of cooperative buying. Collectively purchasing products in large quantities at a lower cost allowed these grocers to offer their customers the same goods at a competitive price. Pleased with the results, on December 5, 1946, this cooperative relationship was formalized. Each of the grocers invested $1,000, and Wakefern Food Corp. was born. Today, Wakefern is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States, comprising 50 member companies who independently own and operate 344 retail supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite, The Fresh Grocer, Readington Farms and Dearborn Market banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Virginia markets.