Baldor Specialty Foods appoints new president

Baldor Specialty Foods has announced the appointment of industry veteran David McInerney as its new president. McInerney, former CEO and co-founder of FreshDirect, brings over 30 years of experience in food retailing, operations and supply chain innovation to Baldor.

McInerney is joining at a pivotal moment in Baldor’s growth as it continues expanding its product offerings and geographies served, according to a news release.

McInerney was selected for his deep alignment with Baldor’s principles, having spent two decades at FreshDirect. TJ Murphy will continue as the company’s CEO, focusing on future initiatives with McInerney.

“Dave and I have known each other for years, and I couldn’t be happier for him to join Baldor,” Murphy said. “We both love great food, and we have a shared view of what quality means in sourcing and service. Our strengths complement each other — while I love long-term innovation, his passion and expertise are bridging the present with the next several years and ensuring executional excellence. I’ll continue looking 10 years ahead, and Dave will start from today. We’ll meet in the middle.”

McInerney added, “There are so many parallels between Baldor’s business and my background — the emphasis on tight relationships with growers, the focus on serving discerning customers and the care for doing right by both sides. This feels like such a natural fit. I am honored to join this team and look forward to building on its legacy, harnessing the power of great people and good food.”

McInerney co-founded FreshDirect in 2000 and played a key role in revolutionizing the online grocery industry. As CEO, he led a team that drove record revenue growth, customer retention and operational efficiency. He also served as “chief food adventurer,” traveling across the globe to source the highest-quality ingredients and forging deep relationships with top producers. His expertise in food sourcing and supply-chain management will be instrumental in helping Baldor further enhance its distribution capabilities and expand its product offerings, the release said.

Prior to FreshDirect, McInerney trained as a cook under chefs such as Bernard Loiseau in Burgundy and David Bouley in New York City and now brings a practitioner’s understanding of the food service industry to his role.