After an approximately six-month search to find a new president, Wakefern Food Corp., the nation’s largest wholesale grocery cooperative, has named Mike Stigers to replace the retiring Joe Sheridan as the Keasbey, NJ-based company’s new day-to-day leader. Sheridan, who last year announced that he would be retiring in October 2023, will now remain with Wakefern until the end of the calendar year to ensure a smooth transition. Sheridan has been with Wakefern for 47 years, the last 11 as president.
Stigers, 64, brings with him five decades of industry experience and a distinguished track record in both the retail and wholesale sides of the business. Since 2019, he has served as CEO of Minnesota-based Cub Foods, a subsidiary of UNFI, the natural and organic food company headquartered in Providence, RI. Prior to that, he spent eight years at Supervalu, beginning in 2011 as the president of Shaw’s/Star Market in New England. In 2013, he went on to lead Supervalu’s northern wholesale region and then in 2014, he was named president of Cub Foods. In 2016, he was promoted to the position of executive vice president, Supervalu Wholesale and Supply Chain Services, and occupied that role until the large wholesaler was acquired by UNFI in 2018.
Wakefern’s chairman Joe Colalillo said, “Mike brings with him five decades of industry leadership, proven success and respect among his peers and the supplier community. Wakefern will benefit from that broad knowledge base and leadership experience. On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank Joe Sheridan for his decades-long dedication to Wakefern and for his role in the search and selection process – it has been invaluable.”
Stigers’ first job was as a part-time courtesy clerk at Safeway in his home state of California in 1974. Throughout his career, he has worked in virtually every area of the retail food business – store operations, merchandising, retail technology, food safety, supply chain and fresh.
He is also active in industry trade associations, having served as a past president of the Western Association of Food Chains. He is the immediate past chair of the National Grocers Association (NGA), having served as the chair of this venerable organization from 2020-2021. NGA represents thousands of independent, community grocery stores throughout the U.S.
“Wakefern’s unique culture and structure is at the heart of its success. I believe Mike Stigers is the right leader who will preserve the best of who we are and at the same time continue to move Wakefern forward. I look forward to working with him through the transition process,” Sheridan stated.
Stigers noted, “I am excited to join Wakefern at this important time in its history. The strength of the cooperative and its solid position as a regional grocery is well-known in the industry. I am looking forward to joining the team and working alongside the cooperative membership to help shape its future.”
Industry speculation had heated up in the past 10 days that Wakefern was close to naming Sheridan’s replacement and further heightened on March 23 when in an 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, UNFI announced that “on March 20, 2023, Michael C. Stigers notified United Natural Foods, Inc. (the “company”) of his intention to resign from his position as chief executive officer, UNFI Retail to pursue another professional opportunity. Mr. Stigers will remain with the company until May 31, 2023 to enable a smooth transition.