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HISTORY The Supermarket Careers program was first established in 1988 to encourage special needs students to pursue careers in the Wakefern/ShopRite Industry. The Supermarket Careers program has received numerous awards since its inception. From an original base in two schools, the program has expanded to 42 schools in all of the Shop-Rite states including New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. One of the most influential schools that uphold the program, The Monmouth County's Supermarket Careers program has proven to be a prime example of what a Shop-Rite Supermarket can be and is. "We stock grocery, non-foods, health aids, frozen foods, whatever you want in a Shop-Rite supermarket," Quoted Leonard Emkin, Instructor of the Supermarket Careers program in the Monmouth County Vocational School. " We have a salad bar and a breakfast bar. We're well stocked and self-sustaining." Comprised of all store-level equipment, this model supermarket is an ideal learning place for all individuals, not just students who take the class. Students punch in and out for each of the two daily classes. Then get into uniform and go to work bagging, checking customers out, re-stocking shelves, replenishing the salad bar and unloading the Wakefern trailer trucks that arrive on a daily basis. Wakefern and Foodarama, A New Jersey Cooperative, donated registers, shelving, cases, scales and uniforms, and the original stock to the Supermarket Careers Program. Other food vendors have chipped in since the start of the program to donate foodstuffs, a time clock, and other necessities. Sales to students and staff are what keep the school afloat. Sales average about $300 a week. The Shop-Rite supermarket opened in September 1990. The two teachers, Len Emkin, who transferred in after 26 years of teaching more formal subjects said that "This is the most unique and most satisfying thing I've ever done in my career." Emkin's associate, Tom Dunphy worked for Shop-Rite Foodarama for 20 years. The last years as a store manager before switching to teaching the Supermarket Careers Program. In 1992, six of the program graduates were working in Shop-Rite supermarkets. Mr. Emkin said "In time, the program will probably be enlarged to include regular high school students, not just the impaired youngsters" that made up the class in 1992. "One of the biggest needs, he said, is trained qualified people" According to Tom Dunphy "There's been a tremendous satisfaction here with the Supermarket Careers program" AWARDS 1995 National League of Cities and the Food Marketing Institute Neighborhood Partnership award -Awarded to Thomas Dunphy and Leonard Emkin ; Instructors ; Supermarket Careers ; MCVSD Secretary of Education’s Award, the highest honor available to vocational programs. (WWW.SHOPRITE.COM) EXTERNAL LINKS
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