IMPACT Award Finalist: James Gerard Foods

Familiar Taste, Unfamiliar Face

"Anonymous" Chef Has Successful Recipe

An old culinary adage is “A chef is only as good as the last meal they prepared.” James Gerard Foods proves that every day and leaves customers with great tastes in their mouths.

You’ve probably never heard of this South Phoenix-based company, but you’ve probably eaten their food. What they may lack in name recognition they more than make up for with flavor, consistency and customer service.

James Gerard Foods prepares gourmet appetizers and entrees for resorts, hotels and smaller restaurant chains. Working behind the scenes, on a given day more than 50 employees hand-craft as many as 10,000 appetizers that are served at resorts like The Phoenician and restaurants throughout the Valley.

“We’re an extension of their kitchens,” says President and Chef Sidney Brodsky, who joined the company in 1996 and bought out his other partners two years later. He still gets into the kitchen now and then, but his main focus is continuing his company’s expansion, diversification and customer satisfaction.

“We don’t just sell gourmet food products,” Brodsky explains. “We offer a partnership that provides innovation, research, sound advice and dependability.”

When the recession hit tourism and hospitality-related businesses, Gerard Foods felt it. “We saw about 40 percent of our business disappear overnight,” Brodsky says. Through hard work, watching expenses carefully and diversifying into serving smaller multi-unit restaurants throughout the Valley, they’ve survived and even saw a 36 percent revenue increase last year.

And as for being the best food source you’ve probably never heard of? That’s okay with Brodsky, too.

“I’ve never been the fame and glory kind of guy,” Brodsky admits. “I’m always the one who says ‘Thank you very much’ and then ducks back into the kitchen.”

To their customers James Gerard Foods isn’t anonymous – they’re indispensible. And that’s on anybody’s menu for business success.

Get Connected
James Gerard Foods
www.jgfoodsonline.com

The 2011 IMPACT Awards will be presented at a luncheon on Thursday, May 19 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. Will you be there? Click here to reserve your seat for the event.