Early Life
Richard B. "Rick" Cohen was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1952. He is the third generation of the Cohen family to be involved in the grocery business. His grandfather, Israel Cohen, co-founded C&S Wholesale Grocers in 1918. Rick graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1974 with a degree in economics, concentrating in accounting.
Rise to Success
Cohen began his career at the family company, C&S Wholesalers, in 1974. He played a pivotal role in expanding C&S from a regional player into the nation's largest grocery wholesaler. Under Cohen's leadership, C&S Wholesale Grocers has evolved into the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the United States, servicing approximately 7,500 stores nationwide. In addition to his role at C&S, Cohen is the majority owner, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Symbotic, an artificial intelligence-enabled robotics and warehouse automation company.
Key Business Strategies
Cohen's strategic vision has led to significant growth through the acquisition of distribution centers and the expansion of services. He recognized the potential of technology in revolutionizing logistics, which led him to found Symbotic. Cohen's emphasis on efficiency and customer service solidified C&S's position in the competitive grocery supply industry.
Philanthropy
Rick Cohen and his family are known for their philanthropic contributions. They have supported education, hunger relief, and healthcare initiatives, with the couple's initiatives leading to the naming of Keene State College's center for genocide studies in his family's honor.
