The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) welcomed a new chairman at its recent annual membership meeting and highlighted the addition of 33 members and 48 sponsors for 2025 – both of which set records for the organization.
Jason Read, director of store operations, Region 1-Central and North Jersey of Wawa, is the new chairman, taking over for Andrew Kent, EVP of Glass Gardens ShopRite, who held the position for three years.
Read joined Wawa eight years ago as director of store operations, supporting more than 115 stores in Central and North Jersey and 10 area managers. Prior to Wawa, Read was employed at Starbucks Coffee Co. for 14 years in roles across all domestic business operations.
Last year, Read served as NJFC’s vice chairman, only the second convenience store member to take the organization’s helm in its history.
In his remarks, Read expressed gratitude for Kent’s leadership over the past three years and highlighted the reputation NJFC has among New Jersey state legislators.
He leads the 2025 board that includes Michael Styer of Acme Markets, vice chairman; Michael Rothwell of Pennington Quality Market, treasurer; Rafael Cuellar of ShopRite of Passaic, secretary; and Linda Doherty, NJFC president and CEO.
“It is my intention to build upon the foundation of success that Andrew [Kent] has left and continue to instill the values and principles that have endured from the past 22 chairs before me over the course of the last 56 years,” Read said. “Our industry owes much to our NJFC team and the ever-increasing notoriety NJFC has among legislative leaders, state agencies and business groups.”
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During a special presentation to Kent, Doherty said the association “shares our gratitude and a great respect for Andrew and his highly accomplished term.”
“Personally, having worked side by side with Andrew for the last three years, I am grateful for his insight, his superior advocacy efforts, his inclusive leadership and his ability to inspire others,” she said.
Some other key accomplishments:
- Passage of the proposed Organized Retail Crime bill, which benefits and protects businesses and communities from ongoing, interstate organized retail theft and resale, is on track.
- The Assembly Environment Committee advanced two NJFC-supported bills. The first funds the reusable bag redistribution project to help collect, clean and transport bags to New Jersey food banks and pantries. The second creates a Recycling Needs Assessment Task Force to analyze the system before new, potentially-burdensome laws are passed.
- NJFC announced the creation of three scholarships. A new $2,500 Bill Sumas Emerging Leader Scholarship will honor the council’s longest serving chair, the late Bill Sumas of Village ShopRite, who died last summer. And new member Shamrock Foods is offering two scholarships at $2,500 each. With these additions, the NJFC Scholarship Fund will have 31 awards totaling $97,500.
- The council continued to advance its Leadership Development Program, which educates future leaders who have a passion for the food industry, possess an interest in the dynamics and trends of government, have a commitment to the NJFC and demonstrate potential for advancement.
Doherty expressed gratitude for the effort, hard work and engagement of “our members, our committee leaders, our executive committee and team of officers. It is through this extraordinary collaboration we have risen to the occasion with our significant legislative, regulatory and association efforts on behalf of the membership.”
As part of meeting Jan. 28, the NJFC welcomed Brian Schaller, the president of Wawa, who provided the oath of office to the new officer team. Schaller, who has been with Wawa since 2002, holds a board position with the Wawa Associates In Need Fund, a nonprofit that helps employees suffering from catastrophic events.
