Nicholas Markets leaves Allegiance for Wakefern

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A family grocer with four locations has joined Wakefern Food Corp. as the cooperative’s 51st family.

Nicholas Markets, with locations in North Haledon, Cedar Grove, Colonia and Washington Township, has been operating under Iselin-based Allegiance Retail Services LLC‘s Foodtown banner.

As part of Wakefern, the four markets will operate under The Fresh Grocer banner.

Nicholas Markets is owned by the Maniaci family. It was founded in 1943 by Rocco and Nicholas Maniaci, grandfather and father of David Maniaci, current president and chief executive officer of Nicholas Markets Inc., when they opened a small grocery store in North Haledon.

“The competitive landscape in New Jersey has grown fierce in recent years,” said Maniaci in a statement. “I believe Wakefern’s deep roots in the state will help me navigate this and other challenges facing the supermarket industry.”

“I leave the Foodtown cooperative at a time when it is strong and thriving,” he said. “It has seen significant growth to its membership base and store count over the past decade.”

According to a statement by Wakefern president and chief operating officer Joe Sheridan, membership in Wakefern allows operators to “maintain their entrepreneurial spirit while benefiting from the scale and services” the co-op offers.

Wakefern is the largest retailer-owned co-op in the country and is one of New Jersey’s biggest private employers.