After more than three decades as a formidable advocate for the Garden State’s grocery and food distribution industry, Linda Doherty has announced her retirement as President & CEO of the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC), effective January 2027.
Doherty, who has led the NJFC since 2003 and spent 33 years total with the organization, notified the Board of Directors of her decision earlier this week. Her departure marks the end of an era for an association that has become one of Trenton’s most influential lobbying forces under her watch.
Doherty’s tenure has been defined by high-stakes advocacy and navigating unprecedented regional crises. She is widely credited with transforming the NJFC into a proactive legislative powerhouse.
Key career milestones:
- U.S. Supreme Court victory: Successfully challenged a flawed New Jersey gift card law, winning a landmark case in the nation’s highest court in 2012.
- Superstorm Sandy response: Led the industry’s emergency planning and supply chain recovery, working from the state’s bunker to ensure food reached residents during the 2012 disaster.
- Sustainability & policy: Oversaw the industry’s transition through New Jersey’s landmark plastic and paper bag ban and fought off various “bottle bill” mandates.
- Workforce advocacy: Secured major training grants for food handlers and championed recent legislation to combat Organized Retail Crime (ORC).
Under Doherty’s leadership, the NJFC grew to represent nearly 400 companies and 1,200 retail food stores, which collectively employ more than 200,000 New Jerseyans. She also launched the Leadership Development Program in 2015 to mentor the next generation of food industry executives.
“I believe every accomplished leader needs to know when it’s time to appraise success, complete the last chapter and move on to another journey,” Doherty wrote in her retirement letter. “It has been the career of a lifetime to advocate for a lifeline industry.”
The NJFC Board of Directors has already initiated a formal search process to find Doherty’s replacement. A search committee, chaired by Jim McCaffrey III of McCaffrey’s Markets, will work with a retained facilitator to identify candidates.
To ensure a smooth transition, current Board Chair Jason Read (Director of Store Operations at Wawa) will extend his term for an additional year. The goal is to have a new leader on board by Fall 2026 to work alongside Doherty before she officially steps down.
“Linda has always stood bravely at the forefront, setting our agenda and ensuring the New Jersey Food Council has a seat at the table,” Read said. “Her impact on this industry for more than three decades is truly immeasurable.”
Doherty, a Rutgers University alumna who was recently named to the NJBIZ “Top 100” power list, will remain active in her role as Board Chair of the New Jersey Clean Communities Council as she prepares for her final year at the NJFC helm.
