Wakefern and ShopRite Associates Receive 2021 YWCA TWIN Award

Keasbey, NJ (May 6, 2021) – Wakefern Food Corp., the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the U.S. and the logistics, merchandising and distribution arm for ShopRite stores, announced today that several associates in its corporate and retail organizations have been recognized as honorees of the 2021 YWCA “Tribute to Women and Industry” (TWIN) Award.

Honorees this year include Wakefern and ShopRite associates whose leadership and expertise have contributed to the success of the cooperative and its stores. Recipients include Wakefern’s Elisabeth Loeb, Manager, Retail Communications, and Judith Barnhart, Data Coordinator; and ShopRite’s Sandra Kramer, Director of Asset Protection and Audit for Zallie-Somerset, Inc., and Christine Sliwinski, Customer Service & Front End Operations Manager for Inserra Supermarkets.

The YWCA TWIN Award recognizes the achievements and significant contributions made by women within their industries in managerial, executive, supervisory and/or professional roles, and is hosted by the YWCA Union County, a nonprofit organization. The YWCA TWIN Awards also recognize businesses whose policies and practices encourage high achievement by women and who promote equal advancement opportunities for women of diverse backgrounds. The virtual awards ceremony will be live-streamed on May 13.

About the Wakefern Honorees:

Elisabeth Loeb, Manager, Retail Communications, Wakefern Food Corp.
Elisabeth Loeb has spent her career ensuring that messaging is clear, concise and targeted. Since joining Wakefern’s Corporate Communications team13 years ago, she has played key roles in helping advance the organization’s communications outreach, including her work in developing the Social Media program. Most recently she helped build a Retail Communications team that provides Wakefern’s retail organizations and associates with the information they need to execute the organization’s strategic vision, operate efficiently, and deliver a customer-focused experience. . Loeb’s team provided critical support during Wakefern’s COVID-19 response by delivering important information that allowed members and store teams to keep stores successfully operating.

Judith Barnhart, Data Coordinator, Wakefern Food Corp.
Judith Barnhart has been the data coordinator for the Fresh Bake division of Wakefern since 2009. Her job has evolved with the ever-changing needs of the food industry. Working with the procurement team, buyers and advertising to ensure the accuracy of each item, Barnhart provides support to more than 350 ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace and The Fresh Grocer stores.

About the ShopRite Honorees:

Sandra Kramer, Director of Asset Protection and Audit, Zallie-Somerset, Inc.
Sandra Kramer has been employed by Zallie-Somerset since 1973, working her way up the organization since she started as a part-time cashier. Kramer has held a number of different jobs during her tenure including the company’s first on the road supervisor, overseeing the liquor and pharmacy departments and human resources.

Christine Sliwinski, Customer Service & Front End Operations Manager, Inserra Supermarkets
Christine Sliwinski overseas customer service, company-wide associate training and front end operations at all Inserra Supermarkets’ ShopRite and Price Rite Marketplace stores throughout New York and New Jersey. Sliwinski is a recognized leader who has spearheaded programs throughout the organization, including a program that has enabled more than 50 hourly associates to be promoted to management and the successful roll-out of self-checkout stations at 22 stores.

About Wakefern Food Corp.
From a small, local cooperative that began with eight grocery store owners, Wakefern Food Corp. has grown into the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States. Founded in 1946, the cooperative comprises nearly 50 member families who today independently own and operate 363 supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, and Fairway Market banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Together with its member companies, Wakefern employs nearly 80,000 people and is one of the largest employers in New Jersey. For more information, please visit www.wakefern.com

About ShopRite
ShopRite is the registered trademark of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative based in Keasbey, NJ, and the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States. With nearly 280 ShopRite supermarkets located throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, ShopRite serves millions of customers each week. Through its ShopRite Partners In Caring program, ShopRite is dedicated to fighting hunger in the communities it serves. Since the program began in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated nearly $50 million to food banks that support more than 2,200 worthy charities. As a title sponsor of the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, ShopRite has donated $34 million to local organizations, hospitals and community groups. For more information, please visit www.shoprite.com.

Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN)
The TWIN award’s mission is to honor women who have excelled in their fields and made significant contributions to industry in executive, managerial and professional roles and to salute corporations whose policies and practices encourage high achievement by women and who promote equal advancement opportunities for women of diverse backgrounds. Through TWIN, the YWCA encourages women to consider and to prepare for a wider range of career opportunities and to help make significant contributions to the workplace. For more information on this year’s award ceremony or honorees, visit: http://www.ywcatwinmidjersey.org/