Industry veteran to succeed Joe Sheridan, upon his retirement
Keasbey, New Jersey-based Wakefern Food Corp. has announced that Mike Stigers will assume the role of president, effective June 1.
Following a national search, Stigers will join Wakefern as president and report to Wakefern’s board of directors. Current President Joe Sheridan, who announced his retirement last year, will remain with the company through the end of the calendar year. Sheridan’s departure concludes a 47-year career with the cooperative, including the past 11 years as president.
“Mike brings with him five decades of industry leadership, proven success and respect among his peers and the supplier community. Wakefern will benefit from that broad knowledge base and leadership experience,” said Joe Colalillo, chairman of the board.
“On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank Joe Sheridan for his decades-long dedication to Wakefern and for his role in the search and selection process – it has been invaluable.”
Stigers brings five decades of industry experience and a track record in the retail and wholesale sides of the business. Since 2019, he has served as CEO of Minnesota-based Cub Foods, a subsidiary of UNFI, a natural and organic food company headquartered in Rhode Island.
Prior to that, he spent eight years at SuperValu, beginning in 2011 as the president of Shaw’s/Star Market in New England. In 2013, he went on to lead SuperValu’s northern wholesale region and in 2014, he was named president of Cub Foods. In 2016, he was promoted to the position of EVP, SuperValu wholesale and supply chain services, and occupied that role until it was acquired by UNFI in 2018.
Stigers’ first job was as a part-time courtesy clerk at Safeway in California. Throughout his career, he gained experience in the areas of operations, merchandising, retail technology, food safety, supply chain and fresh. His achievements and executive leadership expertise position him to assume the role of president of Wakefern.
Stigers is also active in industry trade associations, having served as the past president of Western Association of Food Chains. He is the immediate past chair of the National Grocers Association, having served as the chair of the organization from 2020-21.
“Wakefern’s unique culture and structure is at the heart of its success. I believe Mike Stigers is the right leader who will preserve the best of who we are and, at the same time, continue to move Wakefern forward. I look forward to working with him through the transition process,” Sheridan said.
Stigers said, “I am excited to join Wakefern at this important time in its history. The strength of the cooperative and its solid position as a regional grocery is well-known in the industry. I am looking forward to joining the team and working alongside the cooperative membership to help shape its future.”
For more information about the cooperative, visit wakefern.com.
