Bernard ‘Bernie’ Francis Kenny, Jr., former CEO of 6 ShopRite stores, dies at 85

Bernard “Bernie” Francis Kenny, Jr., the former owner and CEO of six ShopRite grocery stores across Delaware and founder of the nonprofit Kenny Family Foundation, died at the age of 85 on Dec. 30. 

Kenny’s obituary noted that the grocer began his career in the grocery business at the age of 12, working for a local butcher.  

“From these humble beginnings Bernie climbed every step of the corporate ladder and ultimately became the owner, operator, and CEO of six ShopRite Stores in Delaware. Bernie always credited his business success to the guidance and encouragement of the mentors he encountered, especially (Wakefern Cooperative founders) Al Aidekman, Herb Brody, and Milton Perlmutter,” the obituary said.

Born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Kenny served in the U.S. Army where he earned the rank of Master Sergeant in the 101st Airborne and later graduated from the Airborne Ranger School. 

His obituary noted that Kenny met his wife, Peggy, in the dairy department of a store where they worked and married in 1964. Together the couple raised six children, four of whom were adopted, and served as foster parents to 113 children in New Jersey and Delaware between 1966 and 2019. He is also survived by his brother Richard; his sister-in-law Dorothy; his children and their spouses, Kathleen (William), Thomas, Melissa (Mark), Christopher (Teresa), Matthew and Carlie; his grandchildren, Joshua, Zachary, Amber, Autumn, Tyler, Brandon, Alyssa, Matthew, Brionna, Iris, and Lady; his great-grandchildren, Jacelyn, Kylie, Liam, Rowan, Noah and Penelope; and his rescue dog, Snoopy.

Kenny was the founder of Delaware Supermarkets, Inc., and launched his first two Kenny Family ShopRite locations in 1995.

A story in the Delaware Business Times noted that Kenny launched the nonprofit Kenny Family Foundation in 2009 and donated millions to charities throughout the state of Delaware. He served as chairman of the organization until 2021. 

“Not only did Bernie build a successful family-owned company committed to his associates, customers and community, he also played a key role as a member of our Wakefern family. He served on our board of directors for nearly 20 years and worked on several Wakefern committees. He was a straight-talking store owner and operator who led by example and with a passion that we all will miss,” Wakefern Food Corp. Chairman Sean McMenamin said in an interview with Delaware Business Times.