KEASBEY - Joseph A. Colalillo first opened a ShopRite supermarket some 70 years ago.
Today, it is run by his son, Joseph S. Colalillo, who has watched as the business expanded from one location in Raritan Township in Hunterdon County to five in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Joseph S. Colalillo was recently given the Wegman Award by the Food Marketing Institute for his work as "an entrepreneurial and industry leader who helps businesses better serve consumers," according to a news release.
In addition to his role as president of the family business, he serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Wakefern Food Corp., the largest U.S. retailer-owned cooperative in the country and the merchandising and distribution arm for ShopRite. He has held that position since 2005.
"It's an honor to be recognized by FMI, and I am accepting this award on behalf of all our associates who work in our stores and help make ShopRite of Hunterdon County a successful company," said Colalillo. "I'm proud to be part of the grocery industry and to work closely with other members and Wakefern staff in our cooperative to create the very best supermarkets we can for our customers."
ShopRite's Archie Fagan to appear in commercial
The company today runs ShopRite in Raritan Township and Clinton in Hunterdon County, Greenwich in Warren County and in Yardley and Bethlehem, Pa., employing more than 1,800.
Sarasin presented Colalillo with the award at the institute's mid-winter executive conference late last month, it was stated in the news release.
"Joe is a straight-talking, honest broker of goods and services and he inspires our industry to maintain its relevance by his keen commitment to doing what is right for the customer," said FMI President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie G. Sarasin. "He is a champion of new ideas and he has consistently embraced new industry initiatives that empower businesses to better serve the consumer."
ShopRite is a retailer-owned cooperative based in New Jersey, and the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States with more than 270 supermarkets in six states.
Wakefern Food Corp., a cooperative founded in 1946 by eight members, today independently own and operate 343 supermarkets under the ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer, Price Rite and Dearborn Market names in eight states. With 70,000 workers, it is one of the largest employers in New Jersey.
Colalillo serves on the board of directors for FMI and he is a past chair and a current member of FMI's Food Safety committee. He also serves on FMI's Member Services, Independent Operator and Strategic Planning committees.
Colalillo and his wife Jeannie have four children. He holds a bachelor's degree from Villanova University.
He has been recognized in the past by FMI "for launching technologies, initiating seafood sustainability programs, cultivating associate engagement and implementing health and wellness solutions in ShopRite stores," according to the news release.
Colalillo is also a member of one of FMI's non-competitive share groups that exchanges new ideas to better its businesses, the industry and the communities which they serve, it was stated in the release.
A past member of the New Jersey Food Council's board of directors, he received the Food Council's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 for his contribution to the food industry and service to the community. He has also served on the board of directors of Choose New Jersey, an organization formed in 2010 to recruit new businesses to the state, it was stated.
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