Fresh Grocer Joins Wakefern Co-op

PHILADELPHIA — Independent chain The Fresh Grocer here said Wednesday that it was joining the Wakefern Food Corp. cooperative and that one of its eight stores would switch to the ShopRite banner.

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The Fresh Grocer is owned operated by Patrick Burns and has six stores in Pennsylvania, one in Wilmington, Del., and one in New Brunswick, N.J. Its Drexel Hill, Pa., store will transition to the ShopRite banner while the other seven stores will retain the Fresh Grocer name, the company said. Wakefern, based in Keasbey, N.J., will now own The Fresh Grocer trademark.

Founded in Philadelphia in 1996, The Fresh Grocer has a reputation for offering quality fresh products in urban settings. Its transition to Wakefern is projected to be complete by the start of Wakefern’s new fiscal year in October. The Fresh Grocer is currently supplied by Supervalu.

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“Joining the Wakefern team will be strategically beneficial to our customers, associates and company as a whole,” Burns said in a statement. “We are excited for this new opportunity and are looking forward to many years of continued growth and success as a member of the Wakefern family.  We are also thankful to our friends at Supervalu, especially the Eastern Region under the direction of Kevin Kemp and his team, for their many years of service as a wholesale partner.”

The Fresh Grocer will become the 50th member of the Wakefern cooperative.

“As the 50th member of the Wakefern cooperative, Pat Burns and his team embody the spirit of entrepreneurship that Wakefern was built upon,” said Joseph S. Colalillo, chairman and chief executive officer of Wakefern. “Like our ShopRite and PriceRite stores, Fresh Grocer shares our passion for customer service, focus on freshness and commitment to giving back to the community. We are delighted to welcome them to the Wakefern family.”