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Staff & Board

Board Members

Bernie B&W

Bernard F. Kenny

Founder

Bernard Kenny’s (Bernie) name has been recognized locally as the patriarch who brought ShopRite stores to Delaware in 1995, but became renowned statewide for his unwavering loyalty serving the community.

In December 2023, Bernie passed peacefully at the age of 85. May we all continue to be inspired by Bernie’s legacy and example of extending empathy and kindness to our neighbors.

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Melissa Kenny

President of the Board

Melissa Kenny, the Executive Vice President of the Kenny Family ShopRites, has direct oversight of Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Loss Prevention, and is Vice President of Real Estate for the family franchise.

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William J. Bacheler, CPA

Treasurer of the Board

William J. Bacheler is a Certified Public Accountant and has worked exclusively in the public accounting field his entire career. Bill is the managing partner of the accounting firm Bacheler & Company, a regional firm serving clients in the Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Tri-state area.

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John J. Leonard, Esquire

Assistant Secretary of the Board

Mr. Leonard’s practice includes the representation of businesses and individuals for transactions, contracts, business break-ups, estates, litigation, planning, and counseling. He has extensive experience with closely held businesses, serious personal injury cases, professional licensing, and attorney disciplinary and ethics matters.

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Jim P. Leonard

Board Member

Jim Leonard retired from ShopRite in 2017, after ten years of dedicated service as the Human Resources Director.

Prior to obtaining his law degree, Jim served as the sales and marketing director at the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News and has also taught in the Philadelphia schools. Jim was an infantry officer with combat service in Vietnam in the 1960s.

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Richard T. Kenny

Board Member

Richard Kenny has over 50 years of experience in the grocery business. During his tenure, he has held the positions of Co-Owner and Chief Financial Officer, Chairman, and is presently the Director of Government Relations for the Kenny Family ShopRites of Delaware.

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Rich Mestro

Board Member

Rich Mestro is the Chief Operations Officer at Kenny Family ShopRites. He honed his leadership and communication skills while serving in the United States Marine Corp. Rich knows that a successful leader must always have his finger on the pulse of his team members and the community in which he provides service.

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Staff Members

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Heather Hook

Executive Director

Heather Hook began working with the Kenny Family through community events in 2010 and became the Executive Director of The Kenny Family Foundation in 2012. Prior to the Kenny Family Foundation Heather worked in Training and Operations in organizations targeting Human Resources and Sales Development.

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Bernard F. Kenny

Bernard Kenny’s (Bernie) name is recognized locally as the patriarch who brought ShopRites to Delaware in 1995, but is renowned statewide for his legacy of unwavering loyalty serving the community.

Bernie’s belief was when you find your passion and work brings you joy, you will succeed. Bernie put over 70 years of his life into the grocery business, starting as a young man stocking shelves. His commitment to excellence propelled him to the level Senior VP of Pathmark before taking ownership of the Stanton ShopRite in Delaware. Bernie served the United States with the Screaming Eagles for the 101st Airborne Division. Inspired by knowledge, he took every opportunity to study and expand his education, mastering programs at Cornell and Harvard. Bernie passed the store franchise management to his children in 2012, but he continued to follow his passion for food, family and his community until his passing.

Always offering a hand up in lieu of a hand-out, Bernie believed in supporting the community with true collaborative partnerships. He founded the Kenny Family Foundation in 2008, which partners and provides support to organizations in New Castle County, reaching thousands of people in Delaware’s underserved community. Bernie and his wife Peg fostered over 120 high-risk infants for 47 years, and four of those children joined the Kenny family permanently. The family aligns with Delaware Department of Social Services providing mentor support and guidance which inspire families to foster and impact a child’s future. Bernie implemented employment readiness and training programs to create individual income generating opportunities and reduce recidivism, leading by example providing hundreds of retail job positions for graduates within his own company.

Bernie has been recognized by the Wakefern Corporation for his leadership, Kind to Kids for his support for foster children, 21st Century for his philanthropy, and The Delaware National Guard for his devotion to our military. He was a devout Catholic and vibrant member of the St. Mary of the Assumption congregation.

Bernie divided his time time enjoying his 14 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren but it wasn’t uncommon to spot him in his “leisure time” at one of the six Kenny Family ShopRite stores! 

While Bernie is sorely missed by all who knew him, he legacy lives on in his family, his foundation, and the impact of those who knew him. 

Melissa Kenny

Melissa Kenny is the Executive Vice President of Delaware Supermarkets, Inc., the Kenny family-owned company that operates six ShopRite supermarkets in the state.  In this role, Melissa has direct oversight of Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing and Loss Prevention for the organization.

With more than 20 years of experience, Melissa Kenny has trained in each of the different departments in her family’s stores and spent time in all management posts. She has worked closely over the years with her brother Chris, father Bernie Kenny, and Uncle Rich Kenny as she learned every part of the supermarket business.

Melissa Kenny brings the same dedication to her work.  She is passionate about environmental stewardship and serves Keep Delaware Beautiful (a chapter of Keep America Beautiful) as a founding board member.  She also served on Wakefern Food Corporation’s Environmental Committee and Wilmington Energy Leaders Roundtable for several years.  She currently serves on the Delaware Food & Farm Policy Council, under the direction of DE Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse. Melissa served a two-year term as Chairman of the National Grocers Association Government Relations Committee.  She also served a term as an Honorary Commander in the Delaware National Guard.  

Melissa is currently President of the Kenny Family Foundation’s Board of Directors, where her work has been a contributing factor to the nonprofit’s designation as the most active community-based charity in the state. Since 2011, the foundation has donated more than $3.1 million to more than 1,000 charitable organizations in and around New Castle County with micro-grants and partnerships. These organizations feed hungry neighbors, care for the elderly, support animal welfare, educate children, and enrich lives through the arts and humanities.

Melissa is the President/Owner of Delaware Gourmet Catering, which partners with St. Anthony’s City Fare Meals on Wheels program to prepare and deliver daily high-quality meals to thousands of low-income residents 365 days a year. The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation appointed her to its Board of Trustees in 2012 and she currently serves as their Board President.  She also serves on the Boards of Directors for the Brandywine Valley SPCA, the Delaware Food Industry Council, the Better Business Bureau of Delaware, and is a trustee for the Grand Opera House.

William J. Bacheler, CPA

Bill is a Certified Public Accountant and has been in public accounting his entire career. Bill is the managing partner of the accounting firm Bacheler & Company, a regional firm serving clients in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Bill is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New Jersey, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New York. Bill has a degree in accounting from Villanova University.


For more information please visit www.bachelerco.com/

John J. Leonard, Esquire

Mr. Leonard’s practice includes the representation of businesses and individuals for transactions, contracts, business break-ups, estates, litigation, planning, and counseling. He has extensive experience with closely held businesses, serious personal injury cases, professional licensing, and attorney disciplinary and ethics matters. Mr. Leonard has served as a mediator, arbitrator and expert witness. He is engaged in various civic, political and non-profit matters. In 2010, Mr. Leonard was named to the Board of the Kenny Family Foundation.

To learn more about Leonard and his firm please visit www.leonardsciolla.com

Jim P. Leonard

Jim Leonard retired from ShopRite in 2017, after ten years of dedicated service as the Human Resources Director.

Prior to obtaining his law degree, Jim served as the sales and marketing director at the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News and has also taught in the Philadelphia schools. Jim was an infantry officer with combat service in Vietnam in the 1960s.

Jim has been married for over 50 years to Rosalie M. Leonard, nee Campagna, and they have three sons. Jim enjoys reading, music, exercising, and spending time with his friends and family. He greatly enjoys serving as a member of the Kenny Family Foundation and the opportunity the Foundation affords him to join in assisting so many Delawareans in need.

Richard T. Kenny

Richard Kenny has over 50 years of experience in the grocery business. During his tenure, he has held the positions of Co-Owner and Chief Financial Officer, Chairman, and is presently the Director of Government Relations for the Kenny Family ShopRites of Delaware.

Mr. Kenny is also the Chairman of the Delaware Food Industry Council, and serves on the boards of the Delaware Retail Council and the Kenny Family Foundation. He received his MBA at Rutgers University.

Rich Mestro

Rich Mestro is the Chief Operations Officer at Kenny Family ShopRites. He honed his leadership and communication skills while serving in the United States Marine Corp. Rich knows that a successful leader must always have his finger on the pulse of his team members and the community in which he provides service.

Rich’s career has always been in the supermarket industry, and he rose swiftly through the ranks from his start as a bagger and clerk to managing and operating stores. He left Pathmark to lead the Kenny Family ShopRites in 1995. Rich understands the needs of both his workers and his customers and strives to provide both with support and assistance they require in dealing with problems which influence their lives outside of his Supermarkets. His experience and skill-set is ideally suited to assessing and guiding the Kenny Family Foundation as it develops and implements programs which will meet the needs of the communities served by the Foundation.

Rich serves as a Produce Committee member for Wakefern Food Corporation. Other professional memberships include the National Grocers Association, Food Marketing Institute and is a Board member for The Better Business Bureau.

In his leisure time, Rich enjoys golf, spending time with his family and being at the beach.

Heather Hook

Heather Hook began working with the Kenny Family through community events in 2010 and became the Executive Director of The Kenny Family Foundation in 2012. Prior to the Kenny Family Foundation Heather worked in Training and Operations in organizations targeting Human Resources and Sales Development.

Heather is active in all community efforts, particularly in the City of Wilmington where she resides.   Her passion is people and she constantly works to network organizations who can help grow Delaware into a better place.   She served on the Board of the Cool Spring Tilton Neighborhood Association for four years, two of them as President and currently sits on the Board of the Steering Committee for West Side Grows. As the Foundation’s focus is Active Support in New Castle County, Heather is committed to work hands-on with other non-profits and organizations, as well as programs that support training, health and financial literacy to youth and those with barriers to employment.

Heather graduated from the Tatnall School, attended Rollins College and holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources and Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Delaware.   Heather is a fixture working at fundraisers and grassroots events, and usually can be found with her dog Harry.