Tip Murphy dies at 48
Tip Murphy dies at 48
Terrence (Tip) Murphy, a veteran of some of the more visible produce operations in the country, including Chiquita Brands International and Ready Pac Foods, died Sunday, July 13, after suffering a heart attack while playing golf with his friends. He was 48.
Most recently, Mr. Murphy worked at Ready Pac Foods, where for the past 16 months he served as its Eastern division vice president of retail sales.
"I have known Tip for 15 years and worked closely with him at Chiquita and Ready Pac," said Mike Celani, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Irwindale, CA-based Ready Pac, an innovator of packaged salads and value- added items. "We have lost a great member of the produce community, but more tragic is the loss to his wife and two teenage daughters, who he cherished and loved immeasurably."
Mr. Murphy worked for Chiquita for 13 years throughout most of the 1990s and into the new millennium. Before joining Ready Pac in 2007, he was employed by Paganini Foods LLC in Swedesboro, NJ, as part of his 25-year career in consumer products - the last 15 in the produce industry.
Bruce Peterson, the current chief executive officer of Naturipe Farms, but who is better known as the architect of Walmart's entry into fresh produce during his tenure with the retail giant, recalled Mr. Murphy's role in that transition. "People accept today that Wal-Mart is the largest buyer of fruits and vegetables in the world," he said. "But that wasn't always the case. And Tip played a huge role in helping to develop and refine many of the practices that are commonplace in supplier relations today."
Mr. Peterson continued, "I met Tip in the early 1990s when he was hired by Chiquita to be our account manager. Tip was passionate, focused, energetic and fiercely loyal. But if I had to describe Tip in a single word, it would be 'committed.' Everything he decided to become involved with, he was committed to. His family, golf, LSU football or the accounts he dealt with. The contribution he made to my professional and personal life can't be expressed in words. I am just humbled and honored to have known him and worked with him. I can't tell you how much I will miss him."
Mr. Murphy gave of his time to the industry, having served as a member of the Produce Marketing Association board of directors as well as the association's retail board. He also co-chaired the launch of the PMA Retail Solutions Conference.
Most recently, Mr. Murphy worked at Ready Pac Foods, where for the past 16 months he served as its Eastern division vice president of retail sales.
"I have known Tip for 15 years and worked closely with him at Chiquita and Ready Pac," said Mike Celani, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Irwindale, CA-based Ready Pac, an innovator of packaged salads and value- added items. "We have lost a great member of the produce community, but more tragic is the loss to his wife and two teenage daughters, who he cherished and loved immeasurably."
Mr. Murphy worked for Chiquita for 13 years throughout most of the 1990s and into the new millennium. Before joining Ready Pac in 2007, he was employed by Paganini Foods LLC in Swedesboro, NJ, as part of his 25-year career in consumer products - the last 15 in the produce industry.
Bruce Peterson, the current chief executive officer of Naturipe Farms, but who is better known as the architect of Walmart's entry into fresh produce during his tenure with the retail giant, recalled Mr. Murphy's role in that transition. "People accept today that Wal-Mart is the largest buyer of fruits and vegetables in the world," he said. "But that wasn't always the case. And Tip played a huge role in helping to develop and refine many of the practices that are commonplace in supplier relations today."
Mr. Peterson continued, "I met Tip in the early 1990s when he was hired by Chiquita to be our account manager. Tip was passionate, focused, energetic and fiercely loyal. But if I had to describe Tip in a single word, it would be 'committed.' Everything he decided to become involved with, he was committed to. His family, golf, LSU football or the accounts he dealt with. The contribution he made to my professional and personal life can't be expressed in words. I am just humbled and honored to have known him and worked with him. I can't tell you how much I will miss him."
Mr. Murphy gave of his time to the industry, having served as a member of the Produce Marketing Association board of directors as well as the association's retail board. He also co-chaired the launch of the PMA Retail Solutions Conference.
