Middletown Businessman Appointed to Lead N.J. Food Council

MIDDLETOWN, NJ - Richard Saker, a well-known Middletown businessman and the owner of dozens of supermarkets in the area, as well as Dearborn Market, was selected recently to serve as the new Chairman of the Board of the New Jersey Food Council, a trade association of the state's supermarkets.

Saker, who is Chairman, President and CEO of Saker Holdings Corporation and Saker ShopRites, Inc., will lead New Jersey’s largest food industry trade association. He was installed as Chairman by New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, who is also currently running for governor.

Saker owns 30 ShopRite Supermarkets, 29 pharmacies, two liquor stores and the Dearborn Market in Middletown. Saker ShopRites is one of the highest average volume per store supermarket chains in the country, employing nearly 9,000 associates.

Saker's appointment is significant because his father, Joe Saker, was a founder and served as the first Chairman of the Board of NJFC in 1969.

“The New Jersey Food Council was born in the living room of the Saker Family when Richard’s father Joe Saker and a group of supermarket pioneers recognized the need for the food retail industry to have one common and unified voice in Trenton,” said NJFC President and CEO Linda Doherty

Judy Spires, CEO of Kings Food Markets, steps down after completing three successful terms as Chair.