What Happened?
Keasbey, NJ-based Wakefern Food Promoted Cheryl Williams as Chief Information Officer
About the Company
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 is comprised of 50 members who today individually own and operate more than 250 supermarkets under the ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. In 1996, Wakefern introduced PriceRite stores, extending the company`s reach into Virginia, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Today, there are 55 PriceRite stores in eight states. As the merchandising and distribution arm of ShopRite, PriceRite, and The Fresh Grocer, Wakefern, together with its member companies, employs more than 70,000 people; making it one of the largest employers in New Jersey. In addition, Wakefern also distributes products to other supermarkets throughout the northeastern United States and Bermuda. Wakefern was recently named one of the Best Places to Work in NJ by NJBIZ Magazine. In 2011, Supermarket News gave Wakefern its Retail Excellence Award and The Griffin Report named Wakefern its Retailer of the Year.
About the Person
Cheryl Williams its new CIO and VP of the company`s Computer Information Systems Division (CISD), in which she will coordinate cybersecurity efforts and technology on both the corporate and retail fronts. CISD was the same division where she began her Wakefern career as a manager of retail systems in 1996 and later worked as a director. After her first sojourn at CISD, Williams became VP of marketing in 2001, in which she worked with various divisions to roll out key consumer marketing and data programs before being named VP of DCI in 2012. In that position, Williams headed the team that introduced ShopRite`s first mobile app, as well as the ShopRite from Home online grocery-ordering service and digital coupons. Additionally, she serves on Wakefern`s Executive Staff; is a member of the Network of Executive Women (NEW) and a past co-chair of its New York Metro Steering Committee; and sits on the board of directors for Choose New Jersey. Among many industry honors, Williams was named a Progressive GrocerTop Woman in Grocery in 2007 and 2010.
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