ShopRite Operator Dies

George Zallie Sr., who helped expand the ShopRite banner into a force to be reckoned with in the Northeast, has died at the age of 84, according to a published report. Zallie was a resident of Voorhees, N.J.

Born in Ocean City, N.J., to Albanian immigrants, Zallie grew up in an apartment above his parents’ grocery store in Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood, the Cherry Hill, N.J. Courier Post reported. After service in World War II, he went into the grocery business, opening his first store in 1956. In the mid-1960s, he formed a partnership with Stanley Ravitz and two other grocers who operated in Philadelphia. Zallie and Ravitz would eventually open ShopRite stores as members of the Wakefern Food Corp. retail cooperative, now based in Keasbey, N.J. Zallie ultimately operated eight ShopRite stores.

Among Zallie’s charitable endeavors was "Partners In Caring", a community-based program run by ShopRite. He also founded the George Zallie and Family Laboratory for Cardiovascular Gene Therapy at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

Survivors include his wife, Frances; three sons, George, Bruce and David; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.