The executive suite at Wakefern Food Corp. is changing. In the past month, two senior executives have left the Keasbey, NJ food cooperative whose annual wholesale revenue is estimated at $13.9 billion, making it the largest in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast region.
In early January, Parag Shah, former VP-merchandising for Wakefern, exited the company to join The Giant Company (TGC), a division of Ahold Delhaize USA, to become VP-omnichannel merchandising for center store. Shah had spent his entire business career, which began in 2000, at Wakefern. He was named to the VP-merchandising post in 2017 where he oversaw 110 associates in the procurement, sales, marketing, supply chain and grocery merchandising functions.
Later in January, it was also confirmed that senior VP-retail marketing Jeff Reagan had also left the company. Reagan first joined Wakefern in 1987 and rose up the ranks to become senior VP-corporate merchandising for non-perishables in 2010. Most recently, he headed up business development for the large wholesaler and also worked with Wakefern’s existing member/owners to enhance their businesses.
Subsequently, Wakefern announced several corporate personnel changes, some covering the roles of Shah and Reagan, while others were internal promotions.
Jeff Mondelli has been promoted to VP-grocery. He joined Wakefern in 2013 and in 2017 was named VP-pharmacy, adding HBC responsibilities two years later. A registered pharmacist, Mondelli most recently led Wakefern’s COVID-19 pandemic response – a critical role in the company.
Responsibility for HBC and non-foods now transitions to Pat Mooney, who has been named VP-HBC and non-foods. He most recently served as VP-merchandising support, leading merchandising efforts and establishing best practices for sourcing, commodity tracking and vendor cost management in the vendor management office. Mooney joined Wakefern in 2009 and has worked in a variety of leadership roles over the years, executing promotional, planning and marketing initiatives.
Additionally, Seth Nieman has been promoted to VP-merchandising support. Nieman joined Wakefern in 2018 as a product manager in the wholesaler’s “own brands” division where he was instrumental in leading the go-to-market strategy and launch of numerous Bowl & Basket and Paperbird categories. He most recently served as Wakefern’s director of marketing and sales planning, where he led promotional communications and ensured brand consistency for the cooperative’s banners. In his new role, Nieman will continue to drive change in the organization through providing oversight of the vendor management office, pricing analytics department and the space planning team.
Other recently announced promotions include Harshil Patel, PharmD, RPh, who has been promoted to director of pharmacy. Patel joined Wakefern in March 2018 as a clinical pharmacy administrator and was soon promoted to a pharmacy field service specialist. He was then elevated to manager of pharmacy services in February 2020 and played a key role in implementing the successful COVID-19 vaccination program at ShopRite pharmacies. Prior to joining the cooperative, he worked for Village Supermarkets, Inc. as a pharmacist and manager for eight years.
Also shifting duties is Michael Day, VP-strategic planning and transformation, who will now also assume responsibility for business development and member services, as well as the real estate division at Wakefern.
Additionally, Francisco Alberto has been promoted to director, marketing and sales planning, where he will continue to work with each of Wakefern’s banners with a focus on customer perception, changing consumer demands, and the needs of membership. Alberto joined Wakefern 20 years ago and has worked as an analyst, buyer, category manager and procurement manager. He most recently served as manager, promotional marketing.
“We are excited to report recent promotions at Wakefern that will enhance our dynamic leadership team and position us for continued growth and success, said Joe Sheridan, president and COO of the co-op. “All of these recent changes enable the cooperative to move forward and continue to succeed in 2022.”
These moves come on the heels of last month’s announcement concerning changes to Wakefern’s Price Rite discount division. Former Price Rite Marketplace president Jim Dorey was named senior VP-operations for Inserra Supermarkets, one of Wakefern’s largest ShopRite member/owners. Dorey, who first joined Wakefern in 2004, is slated to become president and COO of the 22-store Inserra group, after current president and COO Ron Onorato retires in the next two years. Replacing Dorey at Price Rite was Kevin McDonnell, who joined Wakefern in 2018 after stints with A&P and Fairway Market. McDonnell’s new title is senior VP.
And in related member/owner news, Brown’s Super Stores, owned by the Brown family and based in Westville, NJ, announced several key senior level changes.
Veteran Brown’s executive Paul Brauer has added president to his current title of COO of the 12-store (10 ShopRites and two Fresh Grocer units) Wakefern member. Brauer has been with Brown’s for 20 years, after seven years with Redner’s and four years with ShopRites of Hunterdon (Colalillo). He is also an adjunct professor at his alma mater (where he received his MBA), Saint Joseph’s University (SJU), teaching integrated marketing communication.
Sandy Brown has been promoted to the new job of executive VP and Mark Blackwell has also been elevated to director of operations. He was previously a district manager. Additionally, Joe Hallinan has retired as district manager.
Also on the operations side, Kevin Slack has transferred from store director of the Bensalem, PA unit to operations supervisor.
Karlena Gordon, formerly controller at Brown’s, is now the director of accounting. SJU food marketing graduate Ali Beauvais is now the head of marketing and merchandising with Lisa Bonfiglio serving as her coordinator.
Jeff Brown remains CEO of the high-volume retailer.
At TGC, Shah will fill a job that was most recently held by Rebecca Lupfer. That position includes managing and developing merchandising strategy for the merchant’s grocery, dairy, frozen, GM and HBC departments. He reports to senior VP- omnichannel merchandising John Ruane.
With Shah’s arrival, Lupfer now becomes a divisional VP of the Mid-Atlantic where she will supervise the Giant and Martin’s brands in Central Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Lupfer has been with TGC/Ahold since 2005. She will report to Glennis Harris, TGC’s senior VP-customer experience.
Former Mid-Atlantic divisional VP Sepideh Burkett, who covered the same area as Lupfer’s new assignment, will shift to the new position of VP-distribution operations for TGC. She will play a vital role in helping the retailer complete its self-distribution transition in partnership with TGC’s sister company Ahold Delhaize Supply Chain. Specifically, Burkett will lead the perishable distribution and assume responsibility for the transition to new tools to deliver the largest change in the supply chain in TGC’s 99-year history. She will also report to Ruane.
Their positions go into effect the first week of February 2022.