Sean McMenamin is the new chairman of Wakefern Food Corp., the largest grocery wholesale co-op in the U.S. The Keasbey, NJ-based distributor announced the move along with several others at its annual board of directors meeting held on October 19 at the Hanover Marriott Hotel in Whippany, NJ.
Outgoing chairman Joseph Colalillo paid tribute to the cooperative he led for 18 years as he formally welcomed Mike Stigers as Wakefern’s new president. It was the first annual meeting for Stigers, who joined Wakefern in June.
McMenamin, who served as vice chairman of the Wakefern board, is also president of McMenamin Family Markets, which operates two family-owned ShopRite stores in Philadelphia.
“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 Colalillo, who 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.
“It has been my great privilege and honor to serve our cooperative as chairman of the board,” added Colalillo, who thanked fellow board members, retiring (at the end of the year) 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 programs. Through our combined efforts, Wakefern’s retail banners are respected and formidable regional supermarkets in the Northeast.”
“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 McMenamin, who thanked Colalillo for his leadership and mentorship.
“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.
Wakefern also announced its annual sales at the meeting. During its fiscal year which ended on September 30, the cooperative wholesaler reported retail sales of $19.6 billion, a 5.5 percent increase from the previous year.
Colalillo also presented retiring Wakefern President Joe Sheridan with the “Chairman’s Award” for his nearly 50 years of service to the cooperative. In his last annual report on the cooperative, Sheridan said investments in brick-and-mortar stores, online shopping, technology and Own Brands continue to drive a best-in-class customer experience that strengthens Wakefern.
“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.
A few days after the meeting, the city of Elizabeth, NJ, Sheridan’s hometown, renamed York Street to “Joe Sheridan Way” in honor of the retiring president. Sheridan began his career at Wakefern as a selector in the cooperative’s warehouse in Elizabeth on York Street in 1976.
Both Colalillo and Sheridan called on Wakefern members and associates to support the new leadership team with McMenamin and Stigers at the helm.
Stigers said he is focused on protecting Wakefern’s legacy while moving the company forward.
“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,” said Stigers.
The board also named 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 at the meeting 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.