Supermarket industry veteran Erik Keptner has been named senior VP-marketing for Wakefern Food Corp., the nation’s largest retailer-owned cooperative, with member companies that own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite, PriceRite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer and Dearborn Market banners. He began with the Keasbey, NJ wholesaler on July 9.
Keptner brings nearly 20 years of experience to his new role at Wakefern, where he will develop marketing and merchandising strategies which he hopes will build upon the company’s legacy of successful retail brands.
Keptner joins Wakefern from Giant Food stores (a division of Ahold Delhaize USA), Carlisle, PA where he served as senior VP-sales, merchandising and marketing. He will oversee Wakefern’s digital commerce and analytics, advertising, corporate merchandising, private label and own brand as well as its social media and digital advertising divisions and report directly to Wakefern executive VP Chris Lane.
“Erik came up in the grocery business at a pivotal time for the industry, and throughout his career has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to implementing consumer centric marketing and merchandising strategies,” said Lane. “He’s a proven leader, and we are very excited to welcome him to the Wakefern team.”
“Wakefern has a long history as a respected industry leader. I look forward to joining the team and working with the 50 cooperative member families that make up this esteemed retailer,” said Keptner.
Before assuming his most last role at Giant in 2014, Keptner served as executive VP-marketing for Ahold USA. Previous Giant Food/Ahold USA jobs included senior VP-marketing and consumer insight from 2009 to 2012, and senior VP-marketing and communication for Giant Food Stores.
A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Keptner received his Master of Business Administration from Temple University in Philadelphia.
He is a member of Shopper Marketing Magazine’s Shopper Marketing Hall of Fame, and in 2011 was named to the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” list. He has served in the past on the board of governors for St. Joseph’s University Institute for Food Marketing and the advisory board for the Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Children’s Hospital.