Revamped ShopRite Store Focuses on Sustainability, Community Needs

Wakefern Food Corp.’s ShopRite reopened a revamped supermarket in Old Bridge, New Jersey, on March 17, introducing an “elevated shopping experience” inspired by sustainability and the community’s input, according to a media release. 

Reopening event

The 80,000-square-foot, full-service store replaces the existing ShopRite located in the Glenwood Green Shopping Plaza, which remained open amid the redesign until March 16. The reopening was marked with a community celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony in the morning, as well as storewide sampling stations, face painting, raffles, a DJ, Irish step dancers and a bagpiper to mark St. Patrick’s Day throughout the day.

The first 200 customers were given special swag bags, free coffee and pastries. A graffiti artist was also on site to customize hats and shirts along with a caricature artist drawing customers. 

About the revamped store 

ShopRite says the store incorporates the community’s suggestions, including a curated product assortment, 24-hour service and a cafe and seating area dubbed the Knight’s Loft, which was inspired by Old Bridge High School athletic teams, per the release. 

ShopRite previously surveyed locals on what they wanted in the revamped store, which the retailer says played an important role in the overall design and product selection. The retailer also hosted an online naming contest for the cafe.

The new store was designed with a focus on sustainability and a refrigeration system that reduces the store’s carbon footprint by half, according to the grocer. The store also meets GreenChill standards and incorporates EcoVision glass doors and EcoShine LED lighting throughout to reduce energy consumption by more than 80%. 

The store includes:

• An expanded produce department comprising a “colorful bounty” of organic items, fresh fruit and vegetables and specialty grapes and berries. 
• Chef-prepared grab-and-go options, including hand-rolled sushi, gourmet meals, sandwiches and prepared meals.
• Ruby Foo’s Asian fusion meals and sushi (reminiscent of the New York restaurant).
• Shuk Kosher Kitchen with certified kosher grab-and-go meals and a “Kosher for Passover” section.
• A Fairway artisanal cheese department with more than 600 varieties and a master cheesemonger.
• A “Global Flavors” aisle stocking foods from around the world.
• Fairway Market’s signature olive bar featuring over 30 varieties of olives and pickles.
• Specialty NYC-inspired soup and coffee bars that include offerings from Wakefern’s/Village Super Market’s popular Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market banners. 

“It was important to us that the community be part of the planning, and Old Bridge residents told us they wanted premium quality and inspiration,” Perry Blatt, director of e-commerce and business development for Village Super Market Inc., the family-run business that owns and operates the new store, said in the release. “We offer all the value and variety of ShopRite with lots of special surprises we believe customers will love.”

Additionally, the store’s self-service Fairway Market coffee bar offers 20 Fairway bulk blends and seven different bean grinders, including an electric perk to an espresso machine. Shoppers can also access the coffee bar through a separate entrance and check themselves out with a tap and pay feature.

The Old Bridge store also includes “favorite” ShopRite departments, including a full-service meat department with trained butchers; a from-scratch, fresh bakery offering store made bread, cakes and pastries; a seafood department daily deliveries; a deli featuring Boar’s Head products; and a floral department. 

ShopRite says shoppers can also expect special events, such as a celebratory “Midnight Madness” sale on March 24, with special deals from midnight to 6 a.m., and future foodie events like oyster tastings and tuna, monkfish and cod cuttings. Butchers will be available in the meat department to custom cut orders and make recommendations, and customers can get lobster and shrimp steamed for free in the seafood department. 

Additionally, the store will continue to seek input from customers with the “Gotta Have It” online suggestion form, powered by Asana.

Village Supermarkets is a member of the retailer-owned supermarket cooperative Wakefern Food Corp. It currently operates 30 ShopRite supermarkets throughout New Jersey, New York and Eastern Pennsylvania, as well as four specialty markets under the Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market brands in Manhattan.