Early Life
Richard B. "Rick" Cohen was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1952. He graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1970 and earned a degree in economics, with a concentration in accounting, from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1974.
Rise to Success
Cohen began his career at the family company, C&S Wholesale Grocers, in 1974. He took control of C&S after his father retired in 1989. Cohen is also the founder of Symbotic, a robotics warehouse automation company. Symbotic's AI-enabled platform is used by major retailers. Under Cohen's leadership, C&S Wholesale Grocers has grown into the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the United States, servicing approximately 7,500 stores nationwide.
Key Business Strategies
Cohen's key business strategies include the use of technology and automation to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Cohen's strategic vision led to significant growth through the acquisition of distribution centers and the expansion of services to a diverse range of clients. He also pioneered warehouse automation through Symbotic, a robotics company that partners with major retailers to optimize distribution. In December 2021, Symbotic announced plans to go public through a merger with a SPAC sponsored by SoftBank.
Philanthropy
Cohen has made significant contributions to charitable organizations. His philanthropic contributions led to naming Keene State College's center for genocide studies in his family's honor.