Mission ready. That was the theme Wakefern Food Corp. Chairman and CEO Joseph S. Colalillo, President and COO Joe Sheridan, and Executive Vice President Chris Lane conveyed to Wakefern shareholders, store management and staff at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on October 24 in East Brunswick, New Jersey.
“It’s a time of great change and challenge in our industry, but we’re excited for the journey ahead. With every new program we roll out, we are committed to providing the best shopping experience for our customers and creating the supermarket of the future,”Colalillo told a crowd of nearly 800 people at the Hilton in East Brunswick, and thousands more associates via live stream throughout the cooperative’s stores and offices.
Wakefern President and COO Joe Sheridan said technology plays a key role in the push forward, with the company incorporating capabilities that elevate the customer experience both in store and online.
In July, Wakefern opened the first stand-alone micro-fulfillment center in the U.S. The facility uses advanced robotics to quickly assemble ShopRite from Home®grocery orders, enabling the retailer to expand the reach of its services. Wakefern is also making it easier for customers to design their own custom cakes and order catering and deli items online, and ShopRite dietitians are now available to answer customer questions through online chat.
“We are embracing change because customers are embracing change – the way they shop, the way they work and the way they live,” Sheridan noted. “We are pairing high tech with a human touch to provide the very best shopping experience. Today’s customers want great online shopping options, but they also want a personalized experience. Our promise is that we will deliver all of that to our customers.”
Wakefern Executive Vice President Chris Lane reported on the recent launch of ShopRite’s new Right Price Promise–a commitment to everyday low prices on the items customers purchase most frequently. He also previewed plans to introduce two new innovative store brands, Bowl & Basket™and Paperbird™,in November. Stay tuned for more on that!
“We are truly elevating the ShopRite experience for each and every customer who walks through our doors,” said Lane. “We are ready to deliver to the next generation of shoppers the products and store experience that will make ShopRite their market of choice for their family meals, foods on-the-go and grocery needs.”