Wakefern Food Corp. has opened applications for its 2027 Local Supplier Summit. Small and emerging brands in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic can now apply for a chance to get their products on the shelves of one of the country’s largest supermarket networks. Businesses can apply now through RangeMe, the industry’s go-to product discovery platform.
The opportunity targets suppliers in nine states: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, and New Hampshire.
A Wide-Open Door for Emerging Brands
The cooperative casts a wide net on categories. Wakefern welcomes applicants from food, beverage, beauty, personal care, hygiene, baby, pet, home, and travel. Fresh categories include produce, meat, seafood, deli, foodservice, and fresh bakery.
That breadth signals something important: Wakefern isn’t just looking to fill a gap on one aisle. The retailer-owned cooperative actively scouts for standout, on-trend products it can scale across its full banner portfolio.
That portfolio includes ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, Di Bruno Bros., Morton Williams, and Dearborn Market. This footprint gives winning suppliers meaningful retail reach from day one.
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How the Selection Process Works
The path to participating in the 2027 Local Supplier Summit, from application to shelf space, follows a clear three-stage process.
First, Wakefern reviews all RangeMe submissions. Qualified candidates are then invited to virtual meetings with buyers and key decision-makers later this summer.
From that pool, the cooperative selects 10 finalists who earn the chance to pitch their products in person this fall. Those who impress buyers during the presentations secure at least a one-year placement in ShopRite stores, with potential to expand across other Wakefern banners.
For an emerging brand, that kind of structured runway is rare. The summit doesn’t just open a door; it maps out exactly what comes next.
Local Sourcing at the Core of Wakefern’s Mission
Wakefern’s push to discover local talent isn’t new. It runs deep in the cooperative’s DNA.
Founded in 1946 by eight grocery store owners, Wakefern grew from a scrappy, community-driven partnership into the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the U.S. Its member families now independently own and operate hundreds of supermarkets across nine states. Supporting the local businesses that supply those stores remains central to the cooperative’s identity.
The 2027 Local Supplier Summit reflects that commitment in a concrete, actionable way. Rather than just stating that local sourcing matters, Wakefern builds a structured program to identify local suppliers and provide a clear path into its stores.
How to Apply for the 2027 Local Supplier Summit
Suppliers in eligible states can now apply online through RangeMe. The application covers all accepted product categories. Wakefern encourages businesses at all stages of growth to submit, from early-stage brands with strong concepts to established regional players ready to scale.
For food retail entrepreneurs across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, the 2027 Wakefern Local Supplier Summit represents one of the clearest, most accessible pathways to securing meaningful retail shelf space.