Key Food

Key Food Stores Co-op, Inc.

Company type	Cooperative
Industry	Grocery retail
Founded	April 20, 1937 (1937-04-20) in Brooklyn, New York, United States
Headquarters	Matawan , United States
Area served	Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida
Key people	Dean Janeway (CEO)
Products	Grocery stores (brands include Key Food Marketplace, Key Fresh & Natural, Food Dynasty, Urban Market, Food World, Food Universe Marketplace, SuperFresh, The Food Emporium)
Owner	Independently owned grocery stores (cooperative members)

Key Food Stores Co-op, Inc. is an association of independently owned grocery stores, established in Brooklyn, New York, on April 20, 1937. Its retail outlets are located across Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida. The cooperative’s main office is situated in Matawan, New Jersey, with Dean Janeway holding the position of CEO.

The cooperative operates under various brand names such as Key Food Marketplace, Key Fresh & Natural, Food Dynasty, Urban Market, Food World, Food Universe Marketplace, SuperFresh, and The Food Emporium.

History

During the 1970s and 1980s, Key Food was connected to a trucking company implicated in a $10 million tax evasion scheme. In 1984, an affiliated entity faced allegations of price-fixing concerning coupon redemption practices. The cooperative’s president at the time, Camillo D'Urso, disappeared at sea in 1986 and was presumed dead. In 1987, Pasquale Conte—a member of the cooperative’s board—was detained for involvement in organized crime and subsequently admitted guilt in a mafia-related homicide.

In 1997, Key Food relocated its distribution center to New Jersey. This move led to workforce reductions but safeguarded some positions through union negotiations. The cooperative initiated home delivery trials in 1998 and outsourced its distribution operations to Grocery Haulers, Inc. by 2000 while divesting fixed assets including warehouses.

Dean Janeway assumed the role of CEO in 2008. By 2011, the cooperative expanded with new outlets in Stamford, Connecticut and Jersey City, New Jersey. That same year marked the introduction of the Fresh n’ Save Marketplace brand along with a flagship location at South Street Seaport.

In 2013, two Queens CTown stores were rebranded under the Key Food name as part of a broader expansion across New York City. Between 2013 and 2014, the upscale Urban Market concept was launched in Brooklyn and Queens. The cooperative also extended its presence into New Jersey with a store in Manalapan and debuted the Food Universe banner alongside Olive Tree Marketplace in Staten Island.

The year 2015 saw Key Food acquire 23 locations from the bankrupt A&P chain—including Pathmark, Waldbaum's, Food Emporium, and Food Basics USA outlets—raising its total store count to 212 and establishing it as New York City's largest grocery operator. That year also introduced the Windsor Farms banner. By early 2016, Key Food had obtained ownership of the Food Emporium brand and acquired SuperFresh assets. Later that year, several stores were rebranded as SuperFresh while the Urban Meadow private label was unveiled. Over a span of 30 months ending in 2016, Key Food incorporated 42 additional stores from Associated Stores Group.

In January 2019, the cooperative launched its inaugural Florida store. Following Fairway Market’s bankruptcy in January 2020, Key Food purchased one of its Brooklyn locations. In October 2020, it secured a $10 billion supply agreement spanning ten years with United Natural Foods (UNFI) to serve its network of over 315 stores. The same year also involved relocating its headquarters from Staten Island to Matawan.

By early 2023, Key Food operated 62 stores throughout Florida along with four locations in Pennsylvania. However, due to challenges related to profitability, the supply contract with UNFI was mutually ended in 2025; this decision coincided with UNFI’s plan to shut down its Schnecksville distribution facility impacting more than 700 workers.