Industry remembers longtime industry leader and retailer Robert Backovich
Industry remembers longtime industry leader and retailer Robert Backovich
Former Safeway produce executive Robert Backovich died June 30 of a kidney ailment at the age of 76.
Mr. Backovich spent his entire produce career with Safeway Stores, rising to the top position in the produce department, which he held for many years. He was also very active in the produce industry, especially in volunteer roles within the Produce Marketing Association.
Echoing the sentiments of virtually everyone who had anything to say about the late Mr. Backovich, Dick Spezzano, another longtime retailer, said, "I served on the PMA with Bob and he was a proud Serbian. He was one of the classiest produce guys I knew."
Ed Odron, who was a competitor as head of produce operations at Lucky Stores in Northern California while Mr. Backovich held a similar title at the neighboring Safeway headquarters, had nothing but praise for him. "He was a special kind of guy. He was not only great for Safeway but great for the industry."
Mr. Odron remembered the first time he met the Safeway produce executive during the watermelon pesticide scare in 1985, just one month after the Lucky executive was appointed to his position. "Jim Hunt [of Grant J. Hunt Co. in Oakland, CA] set up the phone call conversation. Bob called me and said, 'Odron? Backovich here. How are we going to handle this? Whatever we do we have to do it together.' "
Mr. Odron said that he had a fairly close relationship with him for the next 10 years while they both held those top positions, and the telephone call epitomized that relationship. "He was always a straight shooter and would tell it exactly like it was."
For the trade press, Mr. Backovich broke the longstanding Safeway rule prohibiting interviews. "Quote me accurately and we won't have any problems," he would say, and he was almost always available to comment on industry topics. Mr. Odron said that Bob Backovich was very close to Peter Magowan, who was the Safeway president at the time, and no doubt that relationship gave him the freedom to stretch the Safeway rules a bit. "Magowan trusted him completely. Whatever Bob wanted to do in the produce department, he was able to do. He did some great things for Safeway."
He was noted as a talented merchandiser and an early proponent of touting the nutritional content of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Mr. Backovich joined Safeway in 1954 at the age of 22 and remained with the organization until his retirement in 1993. He had a number of different titles while at Safeway but basically ran the produce department for more than half of those 39 years. He was on the PMA board through most of the 1980s, serving as chairman of the board in 1987.
Mr. Backovich spent his entire produce career with Safeway Stores, rising to the top position in the produce department, which he held for many years. He was also very active in the produce industry, especially in volunteer roles within the Produce Marketing Association.
Echoing the sentiments of virtually everyone who had anything to say about the late Mr. Backovich, Dick Spezzano, another longtime retailer, said, "I served on the PMA with Bob and he was a proud Serbian. He was one of the classiest produce guys I knew."
Ed Odron, who was a competitor as head of produce operations at Lucky Stores in Northern California while Mr. Backovich held a similar title at the neighboring Safeway headquarters, had nothing but praise for him. "He was a special kind of guy. He was not only great for Safeway but great for the industry."
Mr. Odron remembered the first time he met the Safeway produce executive during the watermelon pesticide scare in 1985, just one month after the Lucky executive was appointed to his position. "Jim Hunt [of Grant J. Hunt Co. in Oakland, CA] set up the phone call conversation. Bob called me and said, 'Odron? Backovich here. How are we going to handle this? Whatever we do we have to do it together.' "
Mr. Odron said that he had a fairly close relationship with him for the next 10 years while they both held those top positions, and the telephone call epitomized that relationship. "He was always a straight shooter and would tell it exactly like it was."
For the trade press, Mr. Backovich broke the longstanding Safeway rule prohibiting interviews. "Quote me accurately and we won't have any problems," he would say, and he was almost always available to comment on industry topics. Mr. Odron said that Bob Backovich was very close to Peter Magowan, who was the Safeway president at the time, and no doubt that relationship gave him the freedom to stretch the Safeway rules a bit. "Magowan trusted him completely. Whatever Bob wanted to do in the produce department, he was able to do. He did some great things for Safeway."
He was noted as a talented merchandiser and an early proponent of touting the nutritional content of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Mr. Backovich joined Safeway in 1954 at the age of 22 and remained with the organization until his retirement in 1993. He had a number of different titles while at Safeway but basically ran the produce department for more than half of those 39 years. He was on the PMA board through most of the 1980s, serving as chairman of the board in 1987.
