ShopRite of Hunterdon County has named Grace Colalillo to a leadership role in human resources, marking the return of a third-generation family member to the multi-store supermarket enterprise.
Colalillo brings a background in talent acquisition, corporate benefits administration, and organizational development to her family’s business, which operates five ShopRite locations across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, employing more than 1,300 associates.
Corporate HR background meets retail roots
While Colalillo grew up working across various supermarket departments—including floral, bakery, front-end operations, and online shopping—she spent her early professional career building corporate HR expertise outside the retail grocery sector.
A 2022 graduate of Fairfield University with a degree in Business Management and a concentration in Human Resources, Colalillo earned her SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) credential while working at Crane Company. In her most recent role as Corporate Benefits Specialist, she managed health, welfare, and retirement programs for more than 4,000 associates, supported talent acquisition during major corporate transformations, and spearheaded enterprise-wide wellness initiatives.
In her new capacity, Colalillo will focus on associate engagement, workforce planning, and workplace culture across the company’s retail footprint.
“My dad always says people are the most important part of our business. That’s why we’re able to do what we do in supporting our stores and communities,” said Colalillo. “I want to continue learning the business from the ground up, spending time in our stores and understanding the many different roles that make our company successful.”
Continuing a 70-year family legacy
Colalillo joins her father, Joe Colalillo, president of ShopRite of Hunterdon County; her mother, Jeannie; and her brother, Sam Colalillo, who rejoined the company in 2023.
The family business was founded nearly 70 years ago by her grandfather, Joseph A. Colalillo. Today, the operation encompasses three New Jersey locations in Flemington, Clinton, and Greenwich, alongside two Pennsylvania stores in Yardley and Bethlehem.
Joe Colalillo also serves as a past chairman of Wakefern Food Corp., the Keasbey-based retailer-owned cooperative that powers the ShopRite brand.
“I’m looking forward to continuing the same level of involvement and service that my parents have shown to the company and our communities,” added Colalillo. “It’s an honor to become part of the next generation of leadership and to help support the associates, customers, and communities that have been at the heart of our family’s business for decades.”
ShopRite of Hunterdon County operates five full-service supermarkets across Hunterdon and Warren counties in New Jersey, as well as Bucks and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania. As a member-owner of Wakefern Food Corp., the business actively supports regional hunger-relief organizations, local schools, and community nonprofits through initiatives like ShopRite Partners In Caring.
