ShopRite of Hunterdon County President Joseph Colalillo was recently recognized for his decades of leadership and inspiring success by the Food Industry Association (FMI).
Colalillo received the Sidney R. Rabb Award for Statesmanship, a 2025 Executive Leadership Award, during FMI’s Midwinter Executive Conference Awards luncheon on Jan. 31.
“The Executive Leadership Award winners are being deservedly celebrated for their unwavering commitment to excellence, collaboration and mentoring the next generation of food industry professionals, setting a benchmark for all of us,” FMI President and CEO Leslie Sarasin said. “These leaders have earned the respect and admiration of their peers by demonstrating extraordinary vision and resilience in navigating today’s dynamic marketplace.”
Colalillo, who was one of eight outstanding food industry executives to receive Leadership Awards at the conference.
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, which has raised nearly $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.
