WAKEFERN FOOD CORP. OPENS APPLICATIONS FOR LOCAL PRODUCE SUPPLIER SUMMIT

Keasbey, NJ (March 9, 2026) – Wakefern Food Corp., the retailerowned supermarket cooperative with member companies that own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, the Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, Morton Williams and Di Bruno Bros. banners, is seeking local growers to join its network of suppliers and participate in its Local Produce Supplier Summit on July 15. Applications opened March 9 via the RangeMe platform and will remain open for 30 days.

As part of Wakefern’s longstanding commitment to local sourcing, the summit offers regional farmers the opportunity to showcase their products, connect with procurement teams, and explore new retail partnerships. Qualified applicants will be invited to the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison, NJ for a day of presentations, panels, and meetings with Wakefern teams and member families.

“Wakefern’s Local Produce Supplier Summit is a meaningful way to connect with small and mid-size growers and bring their high-quality produce to our stores, and we look forward to hosting our annual event on July 15,” said Travis Riepenhoff, Group Vice President of Fresh Procurement for Wakefern. “Like many of the growers we work with, our Wakefern members represent family-owned food businesses that have operated for several generations. We appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes into running a family farm, and we want growers to know that we are committed to being farm fresh here and delivering the freshest produce from their farms to our customers’ tables.”

Applicants should be headquartered in states where Wakefern supermarket banners operate, including NJ, NY, PA, CT, DE, MD, MA, RI, and NH, and selected growers may meet with Wakefern representatives ahead of the summit. Growers who attend the July 15 summit will also have the opportunity to meet with other suppliers and attendees to learn more about what it’s like to work with Wakefern.

Past participants, including Hess Brother’s Fruit Company, credit the summit with strengthening valuable partnerships that support local agriculture. The family-owned company supplies apples for Wakefern’s private label Bowl & Basket line.

“Wakefern’s cooperative of familyowned supermarkets truly shares our company ethos. It means a lot to work with a retailer that supports local growers and understands the care that goes into producing highquality fruit for families across the region,” said Mattie Leid, head of sales for the Pennsylvania-based apple grower.

To apply or learn more about the summit, visit the RangeMe application link.

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 today is made up of member families who 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., and Morton Williams banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. For more information, please visit www.wakefern.com.