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Leadership changes are underway at Allegiance Retail Services LLC.

In a May 14 press release, the Iselin-based supermarket cooperative announced Jason Ferreira as its next chief executive officer. According to Allegiance, he’ll also function as acting chairman of the board until the group finalizes appointments at its annual member meeting May 20.

Ferreira follows Lou Scaduto as chairman and CEO. Scaduto took over the posts following the passing of Daniel Katz in November 2022.

Allegiance characterized the change as “part of the board’s succession development plan.” It also noted that Scaduto voluntarily stepped down “to help ensure a smooth leadership transition.”

An Allegiance co-op member since 2013, Ferreira operates three Foodtown supermarkets in Queens, N.Y. He has served on the board of directors for the past five years. Up until this week, he was vice chairman of the board.

He also serves on the National Supermarket Association Board of Directors. In 2025, Ferreira received the Exceptional Independents Award from Shelby Publishing for his philanthropic outreach, advocacy work for community safety and crime prevention and efforts to introduce mobile shopping capabilities to enhance customer experience.

In a statement, Allegiance praised Ferreira for his “extensive” accomplishments and “exceptional leadership.”

Stocking shelves

Allegiance’s network of more than 125 independent supermarkets across the Northeast includes Pathmark, Foodtown, Freshtown, D’Agostino, Gristedes, LaBella Marketplace, Brooklyn Harvest Market, Market Fresh, Big Deal Food Market, Green Way Markets, Food Basics and Shop ‘n Bag.

Scaduto’s departure comes as the three Foodtown locations he runs in New Jersey try to resolve a dispute with their primary wholesaler that has reportedly left some shelves bare, Supermarket News noted. He told the trade publication that “there is absolutely no dispute with Allegiance whatsoever nor does it have to do with my departure as chairman [and] CEO of the cooperative.”

As president and CEO of Middletown-based Food Circus, Scaduto co-owns that company with members of the Azzolina family. The grocer operates Foodtown stores in Atlantic Highlands, Red Bank and Wall Township.

In a statement shared online by Atlantic Highlands Mayor Lori Hohenleitner, Scaduto apologized for the conditions at the supermarkets. He also said there are no plans to close any locations, contrary to rumors circulating on social media.

“We remain positive that we can remedy the supply issues that we face and we ask for your patience as we navigate getting the stores back to the condition that you need and we expect,” Scaduto wrote.