ShopRite (United States)

This article is about the North American food distributor. For other companies with the same or similar name, see ShopRite.

ShopRite Supermarkets is a retailers' cooperative (co-op) chain of supermarkets in the northeastern United States, with stores in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Based in Keasbey, New Jersey, ShopRite consists of 47 individually owned-and-operated affiliates with 228 stores, all under its corporate and distribution arm, Wakefern Food Corporation. Wakefern itself owns and operates 27 of the locations through subsidiary ShopRite Supermarkets, and is the largest affiliate in the cooperative.

History

ShopRite originated in 1946, when a Del Monte Foods sales representative talked to independent grocers in Newark, New Jersey. The grocers were having problems getting reasonable prices for wholesale goods. The Del Monte representative suggested the grocers try cooperative buying. Seven of the grocers agreed; paying $1,000 each to launch Wakefern Foods, which was incorporated on December 5, 1946. The seven who began Wakefern unanimously agreed the new venture was a success. Members of Wakefern advertised under their own names. However in 1951, they decided they could be more competitive, and spread the word about their great prices by advertising under the name ShopRite.

In 1958, ShopRite cut prices by 10% as an alternative to giving away trading stamps, which other supermarkets in New Jersey were doing. The move was...
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