Emil DeMartini, former produce buyer for Jewel stores known for advancing produce industry, has died
Emil DeMartini, former produce buyer for Jewel stores known for advancing produce industry, has died
Friends, family and food industry professionals are mourning the death of Emil J. DeMartini, who died Sept. 30 at his home in Geneva, IL. He was 83.
Produce industry professionals who were close friends and business associates of Mr. DeMartini agreed that if a memorial were developed to honor those who contributed to the industry's progression to the advanced state it operates in today, Mr. DeMartini's name would certainly be among those etched in the stone.
Frieda Caplan, founder of Frieda's Inc. in Los Alamitos, CA, a produce industry pacesetter in her own right, said that besides being a close and valued friend, Mr. DeMartini was instrumental in helping Frieda's to evolve into the major national specialty produce company it is today.
"The Illinois grocery retail chain Jewel Food Stores was our very first national customer back in the late 1960s," said Ms. Caplan. "It all started when I received an invitation from Jewel to visit them in their suite at a major food show. In those days, companies like ours had to pound on doors to present products to retailers. Their buyers had seen our posters in produce departments -- that we produced on copy paper at the time -- telling consumers how to use kiwifruit for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was our first effort in promotion, and it impressed them enough to want to speak with us."
Mr. DeMartini was Jewel's buyer at the time, and the company was considered one of the more progressive retailers. Ms. Caplan said that Mr. DeMartini had an uncanny understanding of consumers, their desires and how best to "romance" them into trying new and unusual items. Those unusual items have since evolved into the specialty produce category.
"Emil wanted to know what other products we had to offer," said Ms. Caplan. "We sent what were then called Jerusalem artichokes, which we now label as 'Sunchoke,' and ginger to them. He reported back to us with a couple of problems, including too much shrink and customers' inability to tell the difference between the similar looking items. Not one to turn his back on potential, and with the ability to see things that others did not, Emil helped us develop packaging for these items that went on to become the very first packaged produce items. By the end of two months, we had increases of 600 percent."
Ms. Caplan's close relationship with Mr. DeMartini continued until his death last month.
She added that he was a great mentor to everyone he worked with throughout the years and that he helped other retailers to recognize and follow important trends and movements.
"When we began in business, there were only 65 produce items in the average produce department," Ms. Caplan continued. "Today there are between 400 and 700. It is because of people like Emil that the industry has changed for the better. "
Mark Hayes, president of Twin Garden Sales in Harvard, IL, an integrated producer of fresh vegetables, also enjoyed a long and close friendship and professional relationship with Mr. DeMartini.
"We worked with Emil in his position as a buyer for Jewel from the mid-1970s," said Mr. Hayes. "He is credited with bringing our sweet corn to market and ultimately making it a famous product. He retired from Jewel in the early 1980s, but a few years later, needs in our sales department inspired us to ask him to come to work for us on a temporary basis. While working in sales, he also trained new salespeople who came on board. For one reason or another, they did not work out, and he stayed with us. Eventually I moved into sales, and he and I worked together until he finally retired permanently in 1995."
He added, "All through those years, and even after he retired, he continued to be a teacher, mentor and close friend to many people in the produce industry."
Mr. DeMartini was born April 4, 1923, in Chicago. Upon his death, the Kane County Chronicle reported that he graduated from Crane Tech High School in 1941, and then entered the University of Illinois. He interrupted his education in March of 1943 to enter the Army. Honorably discharged in February 1946, Mr. DeMartini continued his education at the University of Illinois, where he received his bachelor's degree in business in 1947. He then entered graduate school in 1947 and received his master's degree in economics in 1948.
In 1949, Mr. DeMartini began a family wholesale produce business on South Water Market in Chicago. He sold that business in 1963, and then joined Jewel Food Stores in management and marketing. He served as senior buyer for merchandise and produce until retiring for the first time.
Mr. DeMartini is survived by his son, Arthur of Wisconsin; four daughters, Jo Schierer of St. Charles, Diane Coughlin of Geneva, Carol Smith of Geneva and Sharon Shelhamer of West Chicago; and four grandchildren.
Produce industry professionals who were close friends and business associates of Mr. DeMartini agreed that if a memorial were developed to honor those who contributed to the industry's progression to the advanced state it operates in today, Mr. DeMartini's name would certainly be among those etched in the stone.
Frieda Caplan, founder of Frieda's Inc. in Los Alamitos, CA, a produce industry pacesetter in her own right, said that besides being a close and valued friend, Mr. DeMartini was instrumental in helping Frieda's to evolve into the major national specialty produce company it is today.
"The Illinois grocery retail chain Jewel Food Stores was our very first national customer back in the late 1960s," said Ms. Caplan. "It all started when I received an invitation from Jewel to visit them in their suite at a major food show. In those days, companies like ours had to pound on doors to present products to retailers. Their buyers had seen our posters in produce departments -- that we produced on copy paper at the time -- telling consumers how to use kiwifruit for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was our first effort in promotion, and it impressed them enough to want to speak with us."
Mr. DeMartini was Jewel's buyer at the time, and the company was considered one of the more progressive retailers. Ms. Caplan said that Mr. DeMartini had an uncanny understanding of consumers, their desires and how best to "romance" them into trying new and unusual items. Those unusual items have since evolved into the specialty produce category.
"Emil wanted to know what other products we had to offer," said Ms. Caplan. "We sent what were then called Jerusalem artichokes, which we now label as 'Sunchoke,' and ginger to them. He reported back to us with a couple of problems, including too much shrink and customers' inability to tell the difference between the similar looking items. Not one to turn his back on potential, and with the ability to see things that others did not, Emil helped us develop packaging for these items that went on to become the very first packaged produce items. By the end of two months, we had increases of 600 percent."
Ms. Caplan's close relationship with Mr. DeMartini continued until his death last month.
She added that he was a great mentor to everyone he worked with throughout the years and that he helped other retailers to recognize and follow important trends and movements.
"When we began in business, there were only 65 produce items in the average produce department," Ms. Caplan continued. "Today there are between 400 and 700. It is because of people like Emil that the industry has changed for the better. "
Mark Hayes, president of Twin Garden Sales in Harvard, IL, an integrated producer of fresh vegetables, also enjoyed a long and close friendship and professional relationship with Mr. DeMartini.
"We worked with Emil in his position as a buyer for Jewel from the mid-1970s," said Mr. Hayes. "He is credited with bringing our sweet corn to market and ultimately making it a famous product. He retired from Jewel in the early 1980s, but a few years later, needs in our sales department inspired us to ask him to come to work for us on a temporary basis. While working in sales, he also trained new salespeople who came on board. For one reason or another, they did not work out, and he stayed with us. Eventually I moved into sales, and he and I worked together until he finally retired permanently in 1995."
He added, "All through those years, and even after he retired, he continued to be a teacher, mentor and close friend to many people in the produce industry."
Mr. DeMartini was born April 4, 1923, in Chicago. Upon his death, the Kane County Chronicle reported that he graduated from Crane Tech High School in 1941, and then entered the University of Illinois. He interrupted his education in March of 1943 to enter the Army. Honorably discharged in February 1946, Mr. DeMartini continued his education at the University of Illinois, where he received his bachelor's degree in business in 1947. He then entered graduate school in 1947 and received his master's degree in economics in 1948.
In 1949, Mr. DeMartini began a family wholesale produce business on South Water Market in Chicago. He sold that business in 1963, and then joined Jewel Food Stores in management and marketing. He served as senior buyer for merchandise and produce until retiring for the first time.
Mr. DeMartini is survived by his son, Arthur of Wisconsin; four daughters, Jo Schierer of St. Charles, Diane Coughlin of Geneva, Carol Smith of Geneva and Sharon Shelhamer of West Chicago; and four grandchildren.
