Wakefern’s The Fresh Grocer expands footprint

Wakefern Food Corp. grocery banner The Fresh Grocer is growing its store count by 50% and entering a new state with the addition of independent operator Nicholas Markets.

Formerly operating Foodtown supermarkets in the Allegiance Retail Services cooperative, Nicholas Markets joined the Keasbey, N.J.-based Wakefern co-op last fall. The independent grocer, owned by the Maniaci family, is slated to reopen its four New Jersey stores under The Fresh Grocer name starting this month.

Plans call new Fresh Grocer locations to open their doors on Feb. 14 in Colonia, Washington Township on Feb. 21; North Haledon on Feb. 28 and Cedar Grove on March 6.

“My customers know they get a top-notch, specialty grocery shopping experience at our stores, and we will continue to provide all the things our customers know and love while adding new and exciting features as we rebrand to The Fresh Grocer,” Nicholas Markets President and CEO David Maniaci said in a statement. “This is an exciting next chapter in my family’s 77-year history in the grocery business. I want to thank shoppers for their ongoing support as we complete our rebranding efforts and make the change to The Fresh Grocer.”

Including those locations, The Fresh Grocer banner will have 12 stores in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Currently, there are six Fresh Grocer supermarkets in Philadelphia and one apiece in Wynecote and Upper Darby, Pa. A Fresh Grocer store in Wilmington, Del., was closed late last year.

Related:Nicholas Markets joins Wakefern Food co-op

Previously an independent chain, The Fresh Grocer joined Wakefern as its 50th member in 2013.

Wakefern noted that Nicholas Markets’ customers sign up for The Fresh Grocer Price Plus Club card at any of the retailer’s four stores. New advertising circulars this month will feature special deals for the new Fresh Grocer locations. In addition, the stores will carry Wakefern’s popular Wholesome Pantry better-for-you private label as well as the new Bowl & Basket (grocery) and Paperbird (household) brands. Instacart same-day online grocery delivery service also will be available.

Nicholas Markets became Wakefern’s 51st member when joining the co-op last October. Overall, the retailer-owned cooperative, the nation’s largest, has 353 independently owned and operated supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market and Gourmet Garage banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.