Nina Balducci, a pioneer of specialty foods retailing in New York City at Balducci’s, and part of the foundation of Baldor Specialty Foods, Bronx, N.Y., has died.
Balducci, 91, died from colon cancer on April 12, Easter Sunday.
She is the mother-in-law of Baldor’s founder, Kevin Murphy.
Married to Andy Balducci in 1952, the couple joined Andy’s father, Louis Balducci, in running Balducci’s market in Greenwich Village.
“Nina’s business acumen, along with her refined European sensibility, was made evident when Balducci’s market expanded from a small, open-air produce store to a full-service gourmet food market in 1972,” according to a family statement. “Every decision, from the new store’s design, to the types of foods to carry, to branding and logos, to PR and marketing, was made by the young Balducci couple as a team.”
Designing the first Balducci catalog as a 9-page booklet, under Nina Balducci’s hand, it grew within a decade to a 52-page, full-color compendium featuring exotic imported ingredients and fully-cooked dishes.
Andy and Nina’s daughter, Ria, married Kevin Murphy in the 1980s. Murphy joined Balducci’s, taking over the small wholesale division called Baldor in 1991.
Balducci’s was sold in 1998, and is not connected to the family.
Today, Baldor Specialty Foods is run by Kevin and Ria Murphy’s son, TJ Murphy.
Nina’s husband, Andy Balducci, died in March 2018. She is survived by two daughters, Marta and Andrea, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Related news:
Owner of New York landmark gourmet store dies
Baldor delivers directly to consumers amid COVID-19 crisis
Baldor’s McQuillan gives sustainability tips with NY Times chef
