Chris Ruane named director of Wakefern’s own brands

KEASBEY, N.J. — Wakefern Food Corp. has promoted Chris Ruane to director of own brands, expanding the company’s focus on private label growth and product innovation across its supermarket banners.

In the new role, Ruane will report to Darren Caudill, chief sales officer, and oversee strategy for Wakefern’s portfolio of owned brands, including Bowl & Basket, Wholesome Pantry and Paperbird. His responsibilities include product innovation, assortment optimization, supplier partnerships and advancing value-driven offerings designed to strengthen customer loyalty.

“Chris’s deep industry expertise, strong leadership and commitment to value make him the right person to lead our Own Brands team,” Caudill said. “As we continue to grow our portfolio and support our retail members, Chris will play an important role in advancing innovation and delivering high-quality products our customers trust.”

Ruane brings 20 years of experience in the wholesale and retail food industries to the position. Most recently, he served as Wakefern’s dairy procurement manager, overseeing a department responsible for more than $2 billion in retail sales. The company said he also led category management and advertising teams while helping drive growth through manufacturer partnerships, cost management and team development.

During his tenure at Wakefern, Ruane has held leadership positions across dairy, frozen foods, health and beauty, and grocery categories. Earlier in his career with the cooperative, he worked as a procurement analyst, managing inventory operations for more than 400 retail locations.

Founded in 1946, Wakefern is the nation’s largest retailer-owned cooperative and supports supermarket banners including ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Fairway Market, Gourmet Garage and Dearborn Market.