Joe Colalillo, owner and president of Shop Rite of Hunterdon County and chairman and CEO of Wakefern, received the award on Wakefern’s behalf.
“Our industry is fortunate to have many individuals serving as strong advocates for our policies and positions,” stated FMI Board Chair Jeff Noddle, chairman and CEO of SUPERVALU INC. “In Wakefern, we have an army that can speak for both independents and wholesale distributors.”
“The family-owned companies that comprise Wakefern were instrumental in showing Congress why the estate tax must be killed,” said Noddle. “Joe’s own company made one of the strongest cases since the tax stymied growth and job creation through the nineties after his father passed away.”
Noddle acknowledged Wakefern’s efforts to repeal mandatory country of origin labeling.
“Wakefern undertook a rigorous analysis of COOL’s impact on distribution centers and stores. The company shared its analysis with the government and walked officials through distribution centers and stores. The tours showed them the dramatic changes that the law would require in virtually every aspect of operations.
“More recently, Wakefern looked at the cost of credit and debit card interchange fees. The company’s figures are helping measure the true and full cost of these hidden charges. They are using this information to educate their members of Congress, other public officials and the news media.”
Noddle noted that Wakefern and its retailers contribute much to the industry beyond public affairs by serving as exemplary community servants. They support food banks, schools, hospitals and a variety other community causes. After Hurricane Katrina, the company donated $1 million in cash and in-kind donations in support of relief efforts and raised another half million through checkout contributions at its retail stores.
Wakefern is the 11th recipient of the Woodard award, which was inaugurated in 1996. Glen Woodard pioneered public affairs advocacy in the supermarket industry during the 20th century, representing Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., and the industry through FMI.
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its nearly 1,250 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate more than 25,000 retail food stores and almost 22,000 pharmacies with a combined annual sales volume of nearly $650 billion. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent operators. Its international membership includes 126 companies from more than 65 countries. FMI’s nearly 330 associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.
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