Wakefern Food Corp. Announces Winners of Total Store Local Supplier Summit

New Jersey-Based Retailer-Owned Supermarket Cooperative Chooses Local Food Entrepreneurs to Bring Unique New Products to ShopRite Store Shelves

Keasbey, NJ (January 13, 2025) – Becky Dheri was working as a pharmacist and struggling to find nutritious, to-go snacks to keep pace with her busy, on-the-go schedule, so she set out to make her own. The Fair Haven, NJ resident tested recipes in her kitchen before coming up with delicious bite-size protein balls and founding her company, Day Out, in 2019.

Upstate New York resident Sarah Hartmann switched her diet to vegan several years ago but found herself missing creamy frozen dairy desserts. Today, her Oneonta, NY-based company, Vesucre, makes delectable frozen treats that are plant-based and free from dairy, soy, gluten and refined sugar. Vesucre also employs neurodiverse individuals.

 

Both entrepreneurs were recently selected to supply their products to Wakefern Food Corp., the nation’s largest retailer-owned cooperative with member companies that own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Di Bruno Bros., Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market banners. The two were chosen after pitching their products as part of Wakefern’s Total Store Local Supplier Summit.

The summit, which launched in September with the initial application process, was an opportunity for local and regional suppliers and manufactures to present unique, on-trend and flavorful foods for inclusion at ShopRite stores, with the potential for distribution across other Wakefern supermarket banners. To be considered, applicants were required to be headquartered in states where Wakefern supermarket banners operate, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Ten food and beverage makers were selected to present their products Dec. 6 at Wakefern offices in Elizabeth, NJ.

A dedicated panel of judges at Wakefern reviewed applications, selected finalists and ultimately announced the two winners, who earned a placement for their products in ShopRite stores and potentially other Wakefern supermarket banners.

“All our presenters had fantastic products and it was difficult to choose, but we are excited to bring Day Out and Vesucre products to our stores in 2025,” said Darren Caudill, Chief Sales Officer for Wakefern. “Our supermarkets are family-owned and operated and committed to the communities they serve. It’s only natural for us to source great products from local suppliers who are an integral part of the communities where our stores operate.”

Becky Dheri said she wanted to create convenient snacks that people could feel good about but ones that also tasted delicious and felt homemade. Her poppable protein balls, a recipe first developed in her kitchen, offer clean and nutrient dense ingredients, are naturally sweetened and come in delicious flavors such as cinnamon bun and brownie batter.

Sarah Hartmann is considered an innovator in the plant-based dessert space with her signature snack, Plant de Crème, an indulgent vegan alternative to frozen dairy desserts. Her new company was part of Cornell University’s Center of Excellence Food Spark Incubator and the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce named her Breakthrough Business of the Year in 2024. Her business is also a zero-waste company dedicated to sustainability and she employs neurodiverse food makers on her team.

Wakefern is known for supporting local farmers, businesses and brands, and supplier summits are in line with the cooperative’s mission to help small businesses succeed in a big business world. Wakefern’s history of hosting supplier summits has also brought innovative products to its award-winning private label lines, Bowl & Basket and Wholesome Pantry. Previous winners have introduced a variety of items, from sauces and spices to restaurant-quality frozen meals, including vegetarian, plant-based and gluten-free options, reflecting the company’s dedication to offering diverse, high-quality products to its customers.

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 that today independently own and operate hundreds of supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, Di Bruno Bros. banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. For more information, please visit www.wakefern.com.