The Jersey Shore’s largest supermarket operator, Saker ShopRites, extended its reach in Ocean County with the acquisition of seven ShopRite stores owned and operated by Michael Perlmutter of Perlmart Inc.
Saker ShopRites now owns 39 ShopRites across New Jersey. The seven new stores are located in Toms River on Fischer Boulevard, Lacey, Berkeley, Manchester, Jackson, Waretown and Stafford.
The transaction’s price was not disclosed.
The Sakers, who have been in the grocery business for more than a century, and Perlmutters have been committed to providing fresh, affordable foods in their stores and giving back to the communities where their stores operate.
“Perlmart has been dedicated to customer and community service since they first opened their doors, and we are proud to continue those traditions as we welcome their stores and associates into our family of supermarkets,” Richard Saker, CEO and president of Saker ShopRites, said in announcing the acquisition. “Both the Saker and Perlmutter families share a love of the supermarket business, and we think this is a great way to pass the baton from one local, family-owned business to another.”
Both family companies were also early members of the retailer-owned cooperative, Wakefern Food Corp., which this year marks its 75th anniversary. Richard Saker’s father, Joseph Saker, joined the new cooperative in 1947, the year before Julius Perlmutter, Michael Perlmutter’s father, joined Wakefern and opened a store in downtown Toms River.
“We are proud to have been part of the Ocean County community for more than seven decades and we are so grateful for the loyalty we’ve experienced from our customers and the dedication and friendship from our associates through the years,” said Michael Perlmutter. “As a family operated business, we have viewed our associates as extended family members and our relationship with some go back 35, 40 and more years.”
