ShopRite
| File:ShopRite logo.svg ShopRite logo | |
| Company type | Cooperative |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (Supermarket) |
| Founded | December 5, 1946 |
| Headquarters | Keasbey, New Jersey , United States |
Area served | Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania |
| Products | Groceries, pharmacy, online grocery shopping |
| Owner | 50 independently owned affiliates under Wakefern Food Corporation |
| Parent | Wakefern Food Corporation |
| Website | www |
ShopRite is a cooperative supermarket chain based in the United States, with more than 300 stores operating across six states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The company is headquartered in Keasbey, New Jersey, and consists of 50 independently owned affiliates functioning under the corporate and logistical framework of Wakefern Food Corporation. Through its subsidiary, ShopRite Supermarkets, Wakefern directly manages 28 stores. Most affiliates run several outlets, averaging six stores per member; notably, the Saker family oversees 40 locations throughout counties in New Jersey.
For nearly seven decades, ShopRite has held the position as New Jersey's largest food retailer and also commands a leading presence in the New York metropolitan market. Since 2011, it has been the dominant grocer in the Greater Philadelphia region, surpassing rivals such as Acme Markets. In that same year, Wakefern ranked seventeenth among U.S. supermarket chains based on sales volume. According to a 2022 Newsweek poll, ShopRite was recognized as the "Most Trusted Grocery Retailer" within the Northeastern United States.
Origins
ShopRite's inception dates back to 1946 when a sales representative from Del Monte Foods encouraged grocers in Newark, New Jersey to form a cooperative purchasing group to obtain more favorable wholesale pricing. Seven grocers each contributed $1,000 to establish Wakefern Food Corp., which was officially incorporated on December 5, 1946. By 1951, the company had reincorporated in New Jersey and adopted the ShopRite brand name to consolidate its marketing strategies.
In 1958, ShopRite replaced trading stamps with a direct 10% price reduction strategy that successfully attracted shoppers and facilitated growth. By 1961, membership had expanded to 70 grocers with annual sales reaching $100 million.
Supermarkets General's departure
During the late 1960s, Supermarkets General—a major member—exited Wakefern, halving the number of stores; these outlets were rebranded as Pathmark in 1968. In response, Wakefern strengthened its cooperative governance by implementing a "one member, one vote" policy, which spurred renewed growth. By the late 1970s, the cooperative had recovered its lost business volume.
For many years, ShopRite and Pathmark engaged in intense competition within the New York metropolitan area. However, Pathmark’s heavily leveraged management buyout in the late 1980s saddled it with significant debt, restricting its ability to invest in store upgrades and pricing strategies. Meanwhile, ShopRite modernized its locations and expanded market share. In 2000, Big V Supermarkets—operator of 39 ShopRite stores across New Jersey and New York—filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and shuttered multiple stores.
Pathmark was purchased by The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P) in 2007 but faced difficulties under A&P’s ownership. Following A&P’s bankruptcy in 2015 and the closure of approximately 150 Pathmark stores, Wakefern acquired nine former Pathmark sites along with other A&P-owned banners to broaden its portfolio of ShopRite, Price Rite, and The Fresh Grocer outlets.
The "Can-Can Sale" promotion
First introduced in 1971, ShopRite’s Can-Can Sale featured deep discounts on canned goods and later expanded to include additional products; it has been held annually every January. Initially lasting two weeks, this promotion grew to span the entire month by the early 1990s. Animated advertisements showcasing cancan dancers were used to market the event. In 2002, a Summer Can-Can Sale was launched each July to stimulate mid-year sales; however, this summer promotion was discontinued in 2018 and replaced by the "Can It Get Any Hotter?" campaign, which concluded in 2023.
Price Plus Club and Subsequent Developments
ShopRite launched the Price Plus Club Card in 1989, a complimentary loyalty program designed to offer weekly savings while monitoring purchases and rewards. Although many promotions apply chain-wide, some offers differ by region depending on inventory and store ownership.
To rival upscale deli brands such as Boar's Head, ShopRite introduced its own private label, Black Bear of the Black Forest, in 1996. This line includes deli meats and cheeses created in collaboration with Dietz & Watson. By 2011, ShopRite stores were selling more than 15 million pounds of Black Bear products annually.
Beginning in 1999, ShopRite broadened its service offerings by implementing online grocery shopping through the Order. Pickup. Deliver. program. Shoppers can place orders for either pickup or home delivery via the website or mobile app, with local fulfillment ensuring convenience and prompt service.
Store Architecture
Reflecting its cooperative ownership model, ShopRite locations exhibit considerable variation in design and layout, influenced by the era of construction and individual owner preferences. For instance, Sunrise ShopRite in West Caldwell showcases a distinctive Japanese-inspired theme. The RoNetco chain of stores scattered throughout New Jersey presents diverse exterior appearances while maintaining consistent interior floor plans. Elements from previous tenants' store designs often remain visible. Nevertheless, an increase in corporate acquisitions has resulted in greater uniformity across store designs and layouts within the chain.
Current Operations
As of , ShopRite's market presence spans from the Washington metro area in Maryland up to Hartford, Connecticut, extending northward to Hudson, New York. The greatest density of stores is found in New Jersey, supplemented by a strong footprint in New York City's suburbs and the Philadelphia metropolitan region of Pennsylvania. In 2010, ShopRite expanded its Connecticut operations by purchasing 11 former Shaw's supermarket locations.
Between 2011 and 2013, after a 23-year hiatus, ShopRite reentered New York’s Capital District by opening stores in Niskayuna, Albany, Slingerlands, Colonie, and North Greenbush. The Albany outlet debuted in April 2012; Slingerlands followed in September 2012; Colonie opened in April 2013; and North Greenbush launched in December 2017. Gas stations were incorporated at the Albany and Colonie sites. Despite initial expansion efforts, ShopRite announced in October 2023 that it would close all five Capital Region stores due to unsatisfactory sales performance, marking its second withdrawal from this market.
After A&P filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2015, ShopRite acquired 13 supermarkets at auction, including several formerly operated by ShopRite prior to Supermarkets General’s (later A&P) separation from the cooperative.
On January 26, 2021, ShopRite revealed plans to shut down 62 pharmacies located within its stores as part of a strategic business restructuring.
Price Rite
Wakefern manages Price Rite, a limited-assortment supermarket chain comprising 66 locations as of April 2018. These stores are primarily situated across Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Rhode Island. Wakefern directly owns 63 of these outlets.
Price Rite in New Jersey
Within New Jersey, Price Rite outlets are managed by members of the Wakefern cooperative. Since 2014, this banner has been accessible for all cooperative members to operate their own stores. Inserra Supermarkets runs the North Jersey locations situated in Garfield and Paterson. Meanwhile, the South Jersey store in Camden, formerly under the Ravitz Family’s management, ceased operations in 2021.
Price Rite Warehouse Clubs (discontinued)
The Price Rite name initially emerged in the early 1990s as Wakefern’s warehouse club initiative but was eventually phased out.
ShopRite Garden Center (discontinued)
Foodarama once managed a modest ShopRite Garden Center located in East Windsor, New Jersey. In 2004, it moved to a larger 55,000 square foot space previously occupied by Frank's Nursery & Crafts nearby, but this location shuttered in 2008.
ShopRiteDelivers.com
Introduced in December 2013 to broaden Wakefern’s online presence beyond its traditional Northeastern markets, ShopRiteDelivers.com specialized in electronics, bulk baby products, specialty groceries, and health and beauty items. The service offered nationwide shipping and helped expand Wakefern’s e-commerce footprint. However, it was discontinued in April 2021 and currently only retails gift cards for ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer.
The Fresh Grocer
Wakefern obtained the trademarks for The Fresh Grocer supermarket chain—primarily serving the Philadelphia region—when its owner Pat Burns joined the cooperative as its 50th member in August 2013. At that point, the chain operated eight stores: five within Philadelphia, one in Upper Darby, one in Wilmington, Delaware, and one in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Since then, the Upper Darby location transitioned to a ShopRite store, while the outlets in New Brunswick and Southwest Philadelphia were closed. Compared to typical ShopRite stores, The Fresh Grocer locations are smaller and emphasize fresh and organic products, premium specialty items, and a broad selection of prepared foods. This model enables Wakefern to effectively serve more compact urban markets. Company leaders have noted that several stores near university campuses provide valuable insights into evolving consumer preferences, helping Wakefern connect with younger customer segments.
Naming rights
ShopRite holds the title sponsorship of the ShopRite LPGA Classic.