James P. McCaffrey, NASFT Immediate Past Chairman, Dies at 69
NEW YORK - James (Jim) P. McCaffrey, the immediate past chairman of the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade and long-time specialty food industry veteran, died on Jan. 30, 2004, at the age of 69 at the Sand Lake Hospital in Orlando, Fla. "We will all remember Jim's great contributions to the NASFT, and we'll certainly miss his style, wit and gentlemanly behavior," said John Roberts, president, NASFT.
McCaffrey began a 43-year illustrious career in the specialty food business in 1960. Starting with the National Sugar Refining Company, he then moved to Louis Sherry, a small public food company, where he was president and then chairman. After Louis Sherry he served as s.v.p. of Norin Corporation, a Miami-based specialty food company.
In 1980, he formed and was president of Iroquois Grocery Products, a division of Iroquois Brands. There he made the acquisition of Romanoff Caviar from Colgate Palmolive. In 1983, he was promoted to e.v.p. and then president of Iroquois Brands in 1984. Since leaving there in 1988, he ran numerous small companies in the specialty food business, almost all of which dealt with caviar.
McCaffrey is survived by his son, Kevin McCaffrey of New York, N.Y., daughter Kelly Chase of Wilton, Conn., and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, Michael McCaffrey, who was killed in a commercial airplane crash in 1985. To make a donation in Jim McCaffrey's honor, please direct all contributions to the Michael J. McCaffrey '83 Scholarship Fund at Amherst College, P.O. Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002-5000. Please make checks payable to the "Trustees of Amherst College."
McCaffrey began a 43-year illustrious career in the specialty food business in 1960. Starting with the National Sugar Refining Company, he then moved to Louis Sherry, a small public food company, where he was president and then chairman. After Louis Sherry he served as s.v.p. of Norin Corporation, a Miami-based specialty food company.
In 1980, he formed and was president of Iroquois Grocery Products, a division of Iroquois Brands. There he made the acquisition of Romanoff Caviar from Colgate Palmolive. In 1983, he was promoted to e.v.p. and then president of Iroquois Brands in 1984. Since leaving there in 1988, he ran numerous small companies in the specialty food business, almost all of which dealt with caviar.
McCaffrey is survived by his son, Kevin McCaffrey of New York, N.Y., daughter Kelly Chase of Wilton, Conn., and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, Michael McCaffrey, who was killed in a commercial airplane crash in 1985. To make a donation in Jim McCaffrey's honor, please direct all contributions to the Michael J. McCaffrey '83 Scholarship Fund at Amherst College, P.O. Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002-5000. Please make checks payable to the "Trustees of Amherst College."