Wakefern and ShopRite Associates Receive 2022 YWCA TWIN Award

Keasbey, NJ — Wakefern Food Corp., the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States, 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 2022 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 Jami Espinosa, Category Manager, Produce; Maxine Nigro, Pharmacy Systems and Support Supervisor; ShopRite’s Jessica Valentino, Controller for Ravitz Family Markets, and Amanda Fischer, Marketing, Business Development and Outreach Manager for Village Super Market.

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 was live-streamed on Friday, May 6.

About the Wakefern Honorees:

Jami Espinosa, Category Manager, Produce, Wakefern Food Corp.

Jami is responsible for the sourcing of produce and other specialty vegetable items. Her main responsibility is to regularly work with growers, shippers and vendor partners with the goal of procuring top quality produce at the best price. She is continuously on-site in packing houses and farm fields, even traveling up and down the East Coast, to source from only the finest in the market and buy the best crops for ShopRite stores and their customers. Jami resides in Cooper City, FL.

Maxine Nigro, Pharmacy Systems and Support Supervisor, Wakefern Food Corp.

Maxine joined Wakefern in 2009 and has over 25 years of experience in retail and corporate pharmacy. In her current role, Maxine manages the business relationships with Wakefern’s pharmacy technology vendors, which includes software testing, implementation and support of new and existing pharmacy technology. In addition, Maxine manages a team who supports the 147 pharmacy locations operating under the ShopRite banner by assisting with pricing and third-party claims processing. The pandemic brought about unique challenges, practically overnight, for retail Pharmacy. Maxine implemented and supported technology that assisted ShopRite pharmacy associates in administering close to half a million Covid vaccines to the communities they serve. Maxine resides in Gillette, NJ.

About the ShopRite Honorees:

Jessica Valentino, Controller, Ravitz Family Markets

Jessica Valentino joined Ravitz Family Markets in 2007 as Assistant Controller and in 2017 took over the role as Controller for the six-store Supermarket chain. Jessica oversees the accounting department, finance, budgeting and cash management. Jessica has previous accounting experience as well as a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and master’s degree from Strayer University in the same field. During her tenure at Ravitz Family Markets, Jessica pioneered the current financial budgeting process, created auditing processes for the inventory system, and changed the financial reporting process for the company. Jessica resides in Franklinville, NJ.

Amanda Fischer, Marketing, Business Development and Outreach Manager, Village Super Market

After spending years studying Food & Human Nutrition, Amanda’s first position was a Retail Dietitian for ShopRite. In the 11 years since joining Village Super Market, she has held community relations, business development, communication and marketing roles. In her current role, she is responsible for leading the marketing and outreach activities for Village Super Market, which operates 38 retail locations including ShopRite stores, Fairway Markets and Gourmet Garage specialty stores in Manhattan. She leads the Village Volunteer Corp, manages the company’s charitable giving endeavors, and sits on the Sumas Family Foundation board, which provides grants to local non-profit organizations. Amanda resides in Eatontown, NJ.

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 hundreds of 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. 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 hundreds of 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 $62 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 $37 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/