ShopRite of Hunterdon County President Joseph Colalillo was one of eight food industry executives FMI – The Food Industry Association honored with Executive Leadership Awards during its Midwinter Executive Conference on Marco Island, Florida.
Colalillo, who served as chairman of Wakefern Food Corp. from 2005-23, received the Sidney R. Rabb Award for Statesmanship.
In its announcement, FMI highlighted the role Colalillo has played as head of his family-owned business and in the supermarket industry as a leader and former chairman of Wakefern Food Corp., the nation’s largest retailer-owned supermarket cooperative.
“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.
A second-generation grocer and Wakefern member, Colalillo owns and operates five ShopRite stores in Flemington, Greenwich and Clinton, New Jersey, and Yardley and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with 1,300 retail employees.
[RELATED: FMI Hails 2025 Executive Leadership Award Recipients]
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.
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 FMI in several capacities, including on its food safety and executive committees, as well as its board. A past member of the New Jersey Food Council Board of Directors, Colalillo received the council’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 for his contribution to the food industry and community service.