KEASBEY, NJ - Wakefern Food Corp. has added an experienced hand to its senior executive team this week; the retailer-owned cooperative announced the appointment of supermarket industry veteran Erik Keptner to the role of Senior Vice President of Marketing, overseeing marketing for the company and its various banners—including ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, and Dearborn Market.

“Wakefern has a long history as a respected industry leader. I look forward to joining the team and working with the 50 cooperative member families that make up this esteemed retailer,” said Keptner, in a press release.

Keptner assumed the role of SVP of Marketing on July 9^th. He brings nearly 20 years of experience to his new role at Wakefern—including stints at Ahold USA and the now Ahold Delhaize-owned Giant Food Stores division, where he previously served as Senior Vice President of Sales, Merchandising and Marketing.

Before taking over in 2014 as Senior Vice President of Sales, Merchandising and Marketing for the Giant Food Stores division of Ahold, Keptner worked as Executive Vice President of Marketing for Ahold USA. Keptner also served as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Consumer Insight from 2009 to 2012 and Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communication for Giant Food Stores.

In his new role, Keptner will develop marketing and merchandizing strategies that build upon the company’s rich legacy of successful retail brands and oversee Wakefern’s Digital Commerce and Analytics, Advertising, Corporate Merchandising, Private Label and Own Brand, and Social Media and Digital Advertising divisions.

Keptner will report directly to Wakefern Executive Vice President Chris Lane.

“Erik came up in the grocery business at a pivotal time for the industry, and throughout his career has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to implementing consumer-centric marketing and merchandising strategies,” said Lane. “He’s a proven leader, and we are very excited to welcome him to the Wakefern team.”

Additionally, Wakefern noted in its press release, Keptner is a member of Shopper Marketing Magazine’s Shopper Marketing Hall of Fame, and in 2011 was named to the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 list. He has served in the past on the board of governors for St. Joseph’s University Institute for Food Marketing and the advisory board for the Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Children’s Hospital.

Keptner is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and received his Master of Business Administration from Temple University in Philadelphia.

Congratulations and best wishes from all of us at the AndNowUKnow crew to Erik and the Wakefern family.

Wakefern Food Corp.