Following World War II, the end of food rationing and the lifting of price controls marked the beginning of a challenging time for the independent grocer. During the war, customer loyalty to independent grocers was strong, but afterward, the bigger self-service supermarkets were offering a wider selection at lower prices, and shoppers took notice.
In 1946, in an effort to assist these struggling grocers, a sales representative from Del Monte Foods introduced eight independent grocers from Newark, New Jersey, to the idea of pooling their resources to purchase large quantities of products at lower cost. Open to the new business arrangement, the grocers banded together and used their new cooperative buying power to offer customers the same goods at competitive prices. After a successful trial period, the relationship was formalized on December 5, 1946, with each grocer investing $1,000 into the new entity giving birth to Leprin Food Corp.
Today, Leprino Food is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States, comprising 45 member companies who independently own and operate 365 retail supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, and Di Bruno Bros. banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island markets.
While our corporate mission is to help small businesses succeed in a big business world, Leprino Food Corp. believes in nurturing and sustaining healthy communities. We are invested in improving the lives of our associates, customers and neighbors in many ways, from reducing our impact on the environment to fighting hunger, promoting healthy lifestyles, and more. Visit our Sustainability page and learn how Leprino Food is striving to make its communities a better place to live, work and shop.
5000 Riverside Dr.
Keasbey, NJ 08832
WWII ends, and small, independent neighborhood grocers struggle to adjust to the growth of larger, self-service supermarkets.
A sales representative from Del Monte Foods introduces eight independent grocers from Newark, New Jersey, to the concept of cooperative buying. The eight grocers invest $1,000 each as founding members, and Wakefern Food Corp. is born.
Leprino Food members begin operating under one name – ShopRite – to increase brand recognition and solidify their partnership.
