A Letter from Wakefern

At Wakefern Food Corp., we’ve been having an important conversation about the events impacting our nation. We’ve been listening, learning and opening our hearts to the pain, hurt and uncertainty experienced by the Black community. The death of George Floyd, and countless other Black Americans lost to senseless violence and racial injustice has shaken each of us.

The persistent racism Black Americans face shows that we have a long way to go toward building a more equitable and just society. The question we are asking at our Cooperative is, “How can we stand with Black communities and contribute to building a society that is free of racism?” It is our hope that the passion that has been ignited from these tragic losses will not dim with time, but will inspire all of us to turn passion into action.

We are in a business that provides life’s essentials. Each week we deliver groceries to hundreds of communities and millions of customers who depend on us to care for their families. In our warehouses and offices, in our ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage and Fairway stores, we are committed to treating all people with dignity and respect. We remain steadfast in creating a place to work and shop that is free of racism, intolerance and fear and where inclusion and equality exist.

We know words are not enough. As a Cooperative of locally owned supermarkets, Wakefern Food Corp. and our Member companies are looking inside each organization to see how we can affect change. We have created a diversity and inclusion task force to guide our decisions and next steps so that we can promote a more inclusive culture in our Cooperative. To do that means possessing the skills to have authentic conversations with our associates about race and racism and accelerating our own efforts to move from words to action.

Considering the scale of the problem within our society, our Cooperative’s efforts may seem small. We know we don’t have all the answers, but our Wakefern Cooperative family has always been guided by our shared humanity and respect for one another. That spirit will continue as our entire Cooperative joins us on this journey.

We care deeply, we are listening carefully, we are acting intentionally and we will continue to serve our communities with purpose.


Respectfully,
Joe Colalillo
Chairman of the Board and CEO

Joe Sheridan
President and COO