Table of Contents
MARCO ISLAND, Fla. – Today, FMI – The Food Industry Association celebrates the 2025 Executive Leadership Award honorees.
The recipients include Tobias Wasmuht from SPAR International; James Harris of H-E-B; Will McIntee from The Biden Administration White House; Denny Belcastro of Kimberly-Clark Corporation; Colleen Wegman of Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.; Omar Jorge from Compare Foods Supermarkets; Joe Colalillo of ShopRite of Hunterdon County, Inc.; and Hank Meijer of Meijer, Inc. These eight leaders exemplify the core values of the food industry, showcasing a commitment to community engagement, innovation, and outstanding customer service. The awards were presented during FMI’s Midwinter Executive Conference.
Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI, stated, "The winners of the Executive Leadership Award are rightfully honored for their steadfast dedication to excellence, teamwork, and guiding the next generation of food industry professionals. They set a standard for all of us. These leaders have gained the respect and admiration of their peers through remarkable vision and resilience in today’s evolving marketplace."
The following eight award recipients are those who have made incredibly impactful contributions to the success of the food industry:
Herbert Hoover Award for Humanitarian Service
Tobias Wasmuht, CEO, SPAR International

Tobias Wasmuht leads SPAR International, the world’s largest food retail voluntary organization. Since joining SPAR in 2000, he has driven its global growth across four continents and 48 countries, including launching SPAR in China in 2004. Under his leadership as CEO since 2016, SPAR has expanded to more than 13,900 stores with global sales exceeding €41 billion, guided by the “Better Together” strategy. Tobias also serves on the boards of FMI – The Food Industry Association, Independent Retail Europe, and the Global Consumer Goods Forum- and contributes to the advancements of independent food retailers internationally.
Esther Peterson Award for Consumer Service
James Harris, Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Supplier Diversity, H-E-B

James Harris, a 21-year H-E-B Partner, leads the company’s diversity and inclusion and supplier diversity programs. In his role, he sets strategic direction, develops policy, and works to support local, veteran, and diverse businesses, connecting them with the company’s procurement and sourcing process. His work drives H-E-B’s longstanding commitment to these efforts and its Be the Change initiative, the retailer’s continuing mission to be a leading employer, retailer, and community partner. Harris serves on boards for the Texas Diversity Council and NAACP Foundation and has earned honors such as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Award. A graduate of Alcorn State University, he combines strategic expertise with a passion to inspire meaningful change.
Esther Peterson Award for Consumer Service
Will McIntee, Former Director of Strategic Engagement, Office of Public Engagement, The White House

Will McIntee is the former Director of Strategic Engagement in the Biden White House’s Office of Public Engagement, where he focused on rural, agriculture, food, and nutrition issues. He played a key role in the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health and has led engagement around the implementation of the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. Previously, he served as National Rural Engagement Director for the Biden-Harris campaign and worked at the Department of the Interior during the Obama-Biden Administration. A Waterloo, Iowa native and Loras College graduate, McIntee is a passionate advocate for healthier communities, ending hunger, and supporting all who work to produce our food.
William H. Albers Industry Relations Award
Denny Belcastro, Vice President of Industry Affairs and Customer Development, Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Denny Belcastro leads strategic retailer partnerships and mentors future industry leaders at Kimberly-Clark. With over 40 years in the food industry, he has held leadership roles at Hillshire Brands, Kraft Foods, Nabisco, and the Grocery Manufacturers Association, where he initiated the FMI/GMA Trading Partner Alliance. Denny also serves as an active member of FMI’s Industry Collaboration Council. A native of Aliquippa, PA, Belcastro earned a business communication degree from Edinboro University and an executive MBA from Northwestern University.
Robert B. Wegman Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence
Colleen Wegman, President and CEO, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

Colleen Wegman is the fourth-generation leader of Wegmans Food Markets, a 109-year-old company ranked the 39th largest U.S. supermarket chain. Since joining in 1991, she has led initiatives like the “Food You Feel Good About” product line, Nature’s Marketplace, e-commerce strategy, and merchandising operations. Wegman chaired the United Way of Greater Rochester’s 2010 campaign, served as board chair from 2013 to 2017, and sits on FMI’s board of directors, advising the association’s health and well-being, industry relations and food safety committees. Additionally, Wegman has served on the FMI board since 2014. She holds a sociology degree from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the University of Rochester.
Glen P. Woodard, Jr., Award for Public Affairs
Omar Jorge, CEO, Compare Foods Supermarkets

Omar Jorge, the CEO of Compare Foods and former chairman of Aurora Grocery Group, is a dedicated advocate for supermarkets as vital community hubs comparable to churches or schools. Raised in the grocery business, Jorge joined Compare Foods in 2009, growing the company’s presence to 45 stores nationwide, including 26 in North Carolina, strategically placing stores in underserved neighborhoods to address food insecurity. Specializing in Latino products, fresh meats, and produce, Compare Foods caters to diverse cultures while expanding its appeal to broader audiences. Passionate about community engagement, Jorge combines tradition with innovation, using social media and technology to connect with customers and promote international flavors.
Sidney R. Rabb Award for Statesmanship
Joe Colalillo, President, ShopRite of Hunterdon County, Inc.

Joseph Colalillo is a second-generation grocer and the president of ShopRite of Hunterdon County, a family-run business that operates five ShopRite stores across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, employing 1,300 associates. His family became part of Wakefern Food Corp. in 1954, which is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the country. Colalillo held the position of chairman and CEO from 2005 to 2023. Recognized as an influential leader in the supermarket sector, he has been acknowledged for his dedication to customer service, empowering associates, and contributing to community efforts through partnerships with local food pantries and hunger-relief initiatives, such as ShopRite Partners In Caring. Additionally, ShopRite of Hunterdon County hosts the annual Run for Hunger 5k, which has raised nearly $700,000 for Norwescap's Food Bank and supports initiatives like America's Grow-A-Row. In 2016, Colalillo was awarded the Robert B. Wegman Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence, and in 2005, he received the New Jersey Food Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sidney R. Rabb Award for Statesmanship
Hank Meijer, Executive Chairman, Meijer, Inc.

Hank Meijer is the head of Meijer, Inc., a retail enterprise based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which operates over 260 supercenters across six Midwestern states. He started in the family business as a grocery clerk at just 11 years old, earned a degree from the University of Michigan, and later returned to Meijer as the assistant advertising director. A successful author, Meijer released a biography of his grandfather, Hendrik Meijer, in 1985, followed by one on Senator Arthur Vandenberg in 2017. He is the vice chairman of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and plays key roles in various organizations, including FMI and the Frederik Meijer Gardens Foundation.