Press Release: Regional Vice President of New England for The Chefs’ Warehouse and Sid Wainer & Son, Allie Wainer Joins the Marion Institute Board of Directors

May 2, 2025

Regional Vice President of New England for The Chefs’ Warehouse and Sid Wainer & Son, Allie Wainer Joins the Marion Institute Board of Directors

MARION, Mass. — The Marion Institute is proud to announce the appointment of Allie Wainer to its Board of Directors. A seasoned leader in food distribution and advocate for sustainable food systems, Wainer brings a unique blend of industry expertise, strategic leadership, and community-minded values to the organization.

Wainer currently serves as the Regional Vice President of New England for The Chefs’ Warehouse and Sid Wainer & Son, a leading food distributor servicing restaurants, hotels, and food outlets across North America and around the globe. In this role, she oversees procurement, sales, and logistics across a wide range of food categories, including produce, specialty, protein, and broadline distribution throughout the New England region.

A fourth-generation food industry professional, Wainer’s deep understanding of food sourcing was cultivated from an early age as she traveled to farms and producers worldwide. She holds a degree from the School of Hospitality at Boston University and built her early career in hospitality and event management across cities including Boston, London, Sydney, New York City, and Nantucket. Since joining the family business in 2013, Wainer has worked across every department—gaining critical operational insight—before stepping into executive leadership following the company’s integration with The Chefs’ Warehouse in 2020.

Wainer’s leadership extends beyond business. She has served on several industry boards including United Fresh, Mass Restaurants United, and the New Bedford Workforce Development Board. Her focus on strengthening the local food economy, supporting small farms, and promoting food rescue and recovery initiatives aligns directly with the Marion Institute’s mission of advancing health, food, and environmental equity.

Allie brings a systems-based understanding of food distribution, combined with a deep commitment to community resilience and sustainability,” said Liz Wiley, Executive Director of the Marion Institute. “Her work supporting local farms and food recovery efforts directly complements our initiatives in building healthier food systems. We’re honored to welcome Allie to the board and excited about the perspective she brings.

About the Marion Institute

The Marion Institute is celebrating its 30-year anniversary as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose work engages individuals and communities in systems level solutions at the intersection of food, wellness, and the environment.

The Marion Institute manages several programs designed to improve health, food access, community well-being, and environmental wellness. The Southcoast Food Policy Council works to build a healthier community by promoting food security. Grow Education is a farm-to-school initiative that collaborates with Southcoast school districts. Frogfoot Farm – Neighbors Feeding Neighbors focuses on food relief and regional gleaning efforts. The BioMed program enhances the understanding of Biological Medicine for patients, doctors, and healthcare professionals.