Wakefern welcomes new chairman and president at annual meeting

Wakefern Food Corp. held its annual company meeting last Thursday where it reported retail sales of $19.6 billion for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30—a 5.5% increase from the previous year, the New Jersey-based retailer-owned cooperative announced on Monday.

During the meeting, Wakefern also officially welcomed Sean McMenamin as its new chairman and Mike Stigers as its new president. McMenamin, who served as vice chairman of the board, is also president of McMenamin Family Markets, which operates two ShopRite stores in Philadelphia. This was Stigers’ first annual meeting. He joined Wakefern in June.

“Sean is a second-generation grocer who believes in the mission of our cooperative. He recognizes that Wakefern succeeds when all of its members succeed. Both Sean and Mike are strong leaders who will confidently navigate the challenges ahead to make sure Wakefern continues to grow and succeed,” said outgoing Chairman Joseph Colalillo in a statement.

He will continue to serve on Wakefern’s board and lead his family company, ShopRite of Hunterdon County, which operates five ShopRite stores in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Wakefern noted in a press release.

“I am honored and humbled to be here today and promise to work as hard as I can to ensure that our family-owned businesses—our Wakefern family—thrive for generations to come,” said new Wakefern Chairman Sean McMenamin in a statement.

“A desire to help people eat well and be happy has been at our core since the cooperative was founded by eight neighborhood grocers in 1946. That shared common purpose will continue to guide us and keep our members strong in this rapidly changing industry,” added McMenamin. 

Colalillo, who paid tribute to the cooperative he led for 18 years, thanked fellow board members, retiring Wakefern President Joe Sheridan and associates.

“Together, we have steered our company through a period of substantial growth, made investments in warehouses, technology and new and innovative marketing program,” he said. “Through our combined efforts, Wakefern’s retail banners are respected and formidable regional supermarkets in the Northeast.”

At the meeting, Colalillo presented Sheridan with the Chairman’s Award for his nearly 50 years of service to the cooperative.

Sheridan, in his last annual report on the cooperative, said investments in brick-and-mortar stores, online shopping, technology and own brands continue to drive a best-in-class customer experience that strengthens the cooperative, Wakefern noted in a press release.

“As I complete my last and 28th presentation to this group, I want you to know that it has always been my privilege to present the accomplishments of all the people in this room, in our warehouses and in our stores. It has been an honor for me to serve multiple generations of ShopRite families who lead their own companies and support Wakefern,” said Sheridan.

Focused on protecting Wakefern’s legacy while moving the company forward as president, Stigers said the “past 77 years has seen Wakefern achieve the considerable feat of becoming the nation’s largest retailer-owned cooperative. This cooperative has a pretty remarkable history, and I’m so grateful to be part of it. I’m excited to think about what the next 77 will bring and how we can take the next steps on Wakefern’s journey into the future.”

At the meeting, the board also welcomed Sandra Brown, chairwoman of Brown’s Super Stores, Inc., and David Maniaci, president and CEO of Nicholas Markets, Inc., as the newest members of Wakefern’s board of directors.  

Wakefern shareholders elected to the board include: Sean McMenamin, chairman; Larri Wolfson and Dominick J. Romano, vice chairmen; Nicholas Sumas, treasurer, Lawrence Inserra, Jr., and Neil Greenstein, assistant treasurers; Richard Saker, secretary, and Ned Gladstein, Shawn Ravitz and Marshall Klein, assistant secretaries.