Keasbey, NJ (PRWEB) December 05, 2016
Wakefern Food Corp. President and COO Joe Sheridan has announced the promotion of Chris Lane, Senior Vice President of Product Divisions, to Executive Vice President of the company.
Lane, a 13-year veteran of the company, will guide day-to-day operations and strategy planning for Wakefern. The largest U.S. retailer-owned cooperative, Wakefern comprises 50 member companies that own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer, PriceRite and Dearborn Market banners. The 70-year-old company reported retail sales of $16 billion during its annual meeting in October.
“Our goal was to select an individual who would honor our past and at the same time challenge the status quo to ensure a bright future for Wakefern and our members. We’re happy to announce that Chris Lane has been appointed to the position,” said Sheridan. “Chris is innovative, forward thinking and willing to take the calculated risks required to navigate a challenging competitive environment where emerging technologies and changing consumer preferences require us to be nimble and able to respond with urgency.”
Lane joined Wakefern in 2003 as Vice President of Pharmacy and in 2005 added Health and Beauty Care (HBC) to his responsibilities. By 2008, he was promoted to Vice President, Grocery, Direct Store Delivery and Commercial Bakery. In 2011 he was promoted again to Senior Vice President, Non-Perishables, and most recently was named Senior Vice President, Product Divisions where, in addition to his responsibility for Wakefern’s various procurement divisions, he also led health and wellness initiatives.
Prior to joining Wakefern, Lane served as Vice President of Pharmacy at Duane Reade. He received his bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of the Sciences, College of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, PA.
He is a member of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Board of Directors and a member of the Trinitas Regional Medical Center Board of Directors.
Lane resides in Fair Haven, NJ with his wife Kim and three daughters.
About Wakefern Food Corp.
From a small, struggling cooperative with eight members – all owners of their own grocery stores – Wakefern Food Corp. has grown into the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States. Founded in 1946, the cooperative comprises 50 member companies that individually own and operate more than 260 supermarkets under the ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. In 1996, Wakefern introduced Price Rite stores, extending the company's reach into Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Virginia. In 2014, Wakefern extended rights to the Price Rite banner to cooperative members. As the merchandising and distribution arm of both ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer and Price Rite, Wakefern, together with its member companies, employs more than 70,000 people, making it one of the largest employers in New Jersey. For more information, please visit http://www.Wakefern.com.