FMI – The Food Industry Association recognized ShopRite of Hunterdon County President Joseph Colalillo with the Sidney R. Rabb Award for Statesmanship, a 2025 Executive Leadership Award, during FMI’s Midwinter Executive Conference Awards luncheon on Jan. 31.
Colalillo was one of eight outstanding food industry executives to receive leadership awards during FMI’s Midwinter Executive Conference in Florida.
In its awards announcement, FMI highlighted the important role Colalillo has played both as head of his family-owned business, ShopRite of Hunterdon County, and in the supermarket industry as a respected leader and former chairman of Wakefern Food Corp., the nation’s largest retailer-owned supermarket cooperative.
A second-generation grocer and Wakefern member, Colalillo owns and operates five ShopRite stores located in Flemington, Greenwich and Clinton, New Jersey; and Yardley and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, employing 1,300 retail associates. He also served as chairman of Wakefern Food Corp. from 2005-23.
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FMI cited Colalillo’s commitment to the supermarket industry, customers and the communities where his stores operate. He’s credited with helping his retail teams excel and supporting local organizations and hunger-fighting initiatives, including ShopRite Partners In Caring. ShopRite of Hunterdon County also sponsors the annual Run for Hunger 5K in Flemington, New Jersey, which has raised about $700,000 over the years for Norwescap’s Food Bank, and provides support to America’s Grow-A-Row.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by FMI with the Sidney R. Rabb Award for Statesmanship, and I accept this on behalf of my family, our associates, our cooperative members, our Wakefern staff and the FMI staff who supported and enabled me over the years to work on industry initiatives. Without their support, I could not have made a difference,” Colalillo said.
FMI has recognized Colalillo in the past as an entrepreneurial leader who helped develop consumer-facing technologies, seafood sustainability programs and associate engagement and health and wellness initiatives in ShopRite stores. He has served on several FMI committees, including its food safety and executive committees, as well as its board. A past member of the New Jersey Food Council Board of Directors, Colalillo also received the council’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 for his contribution to the food industry and service to the community.
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