The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) is naming its 2026 President’s Scholarship Award after Jim McCaffrey III, president and CEO of McCaffrey’s Markets.
Each year, the President’s Scholarship is named in honor of a respected grocery business leader in New Jersey and the 2026 scholarship will bear McCaffrey’s name in recognition of his decades of service to the industry.
The honor was announced at NJFC’s annual holiday celebration held Dec. 3 at the Park Chateau Estate & Gardens in East Brunswick, a gathering featuring hundreds of McCaffrey’s long-time colleagues and friends as well as NJFC members.
McCaffrey has led McCaffrey’s Markets since 1980, overseeing operations at the company’s central commissary and eight stores across New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. Under his leadership, the business has employed hundreds of people while maintaining a strong presence in the regional grocery market.
“Jim is a noted ‘class act’ and an innovative leader who has been a fierce advocate of the grocery industry and a trusted friend to many,” NJFC President & CEO Linda Doherty said. “It is our personal honor to recognize Jim’s ongoing legacy by naming this year’s Presidential Scholarship Award in his honor.”
McCaffrey’s contributions to the NJFC span 30 years of service on the board of directors, including three years as board chairman. He is credited with playing a role in legislative victories and organizational initiatives that have strengthened the association.
Among his key accomplishments, McCaffrey was an architect behind the creation of the NJFC Educational Scholarship Fund, dedicating time each year to select scholarship winners and lead the Student Award reception. He also played a role in building the NJFC Leadership Development program, which supports emerging leaders in New Jersey’s retail food industry through political and policy education and leadership training.
McCaffrey received the 2011 NJFC Achievement Award and served as NJFC’s Governance Chair for many years. He also championed the member energy aggregation program and implemented measures to ensure the organization’s long-term viability.
The President’s Scholarship Award is in its third year. Previous honorees were Doherty and the late Bill Sumas, chairman of Village ShopRite Supermarkets.
