Andrew Kent Named NJ Food Council Chair

Joseph Sofia Lauded for Navigating Council Through Two Years of Pandemic

On Feb 9, 2022

Andrew Kent, executive vice president of Glass Gardens Shop Rite, has been named chairman of the New Jersey Food Council. He succeeded Joseph Sofia, division manager at Wegmans Food Markets, who had served as NJFC chair for the past two years.

“It is my intention to follow the path Joe has built and continue to instill the values and principles that have endured from the past 20 chairs before me over the course of the last 53 years,” Kent said.

Sofia chaired the organization through the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There was no shortage of pressing issues and industry crisis to which the NJFC didn’t rise to the occasion,” Sofia said. “From offering a hybrid calendar of events, to supporting employment legislation that provides much needed relief to members, and engaging in important committee work to set our focus and policies, NJFC and our members have never ceased to amaze me in their vision and perseverance.”

“Joe united our Board during our toughest days, and we are grateful for his steadfast leadership and heartfelt passion for our business, our associates and the communities we serve,” said Linda Doherty, president & CEO, NJFC. “Personally, having worked side by side with Joe for the last two years, I am grateful for his insight, calm demeanor, curiosity to understand the policy, emotional intellect and his ability to rally our Board through uncharted times.”

The 2022 slate of NJFC Officers include:

• Andrew Kent, Glass Gardens ShopRite, chair
• Suzanne DelVecchio, QuickChek Corporation, vice chair
• Mike Styer, Albertsons Companies, secretary
• Mike Rothwell, Pennington Quality Market, treasurer
• Mike Biase, Mission Foods, associate vice chair
• Linda Doherty, New Jersey Food Council, president & CEO

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