MEMBER SPOTLIGHT FACTORY: Joe Flaherty, CFSP, Mercer Culinary - Oct/Nov 2023

Meet Joe Flaherty, CFSP, Mercer Culinary:
Learn. Collaborate. Network. 

Name: Joe Flaherty, CFSP
Company: Mercer Culinary
Title: Senior Vice President 
Years in "The Biz": 22
Interviewed by: Kate Pennington, Business Development Manager, Greenwald Sales, LLC

A valued member of MAFSI, Joe Flaherty, CFSP, Mercer Culinary, is passionate about foodservice, manufacturing, marketing, and technology-based retail. With strengths in teambuilding, relationship management, contract and program negotiation, strategic planning, and product design and launch, he possesses extensive knowledge of smallwares and apparel channels in both B2B and B2C markets. Joe believes in Mercer’s Chef Centric approach — collaborating with master chefs and industry leaders to understand their challenges, and developing products which take food preparation, cooking, and serving to a new level. 

1. What's your favorite non-work activity, and why?
   
   Cooking and entertaining — I'm a big fan of cooking and researching food as well as entertaining. Barbecue is a big passion of mine. 
   
   
2. Guilty Pleasure: What can you not live without?  (e.g, Reality TV, specific junk foods, 80’s hair bands, etc.)
   
   Guitars. I've been playing the guitar for 30 years and I also collect guitars. I'm a much better collector than I am a player, but it's a good form of relaxation for me. 

    

3. If you could eat anywhere for your next meal, where would it be and why?
   
   Barrafina in Soho, London — Amazing Basque food in a counter service One MICHELIN Star Restaurant. I just ate there last week, and it was fantastic as always!
   
   
4. What’s one piece of advice you have for a young person in the industry?
   
   Jump all in and get involved with organizations (MAFSI, NAFEM, etc.) and network as much as possible. Find a mentor, but also connect with your peers to share struggles and wins. This is a great industry.  
   
   
   
5. What’s your favorite part of being a MAFSI member?
   
   

   MAFSI provides a great opportunity to learn, collaborate, and network with others in the industry. The educational sessions at MAFSI conferences are fantastic. 

6. What is your favorite food? The secret to good cooking is always butter. I’m not sitting down and eating a plate of butter (too often). The best butter is Plugra butter from France. That’s what most French pastry shops use and that’s what I would highly recommend.  
   
   
7. What sports team do you support the most? Michigan State is like butter!

Note: We ask our members two bonus questions, but we love that Joe is an overachiever and answered more!

• What is your favorite dining experience? Wisconsin Supper Club - you have to love the tradition of it.

• What brings you the most satisfaction in your current role? Any good salesperson will say winning! Small wins are just as good as the big ones.

As we all know, there’s considerably more to MAFSI members than being a rep or manufacturer, and we want other members to know about it!

Are you passionate about a particular philanthropic cause? Are you a huge foodie? Maybe you’re an avid skydiver? Whatever it is – we want to know about it — and SEE you doing it!

If you’re interested in participating, or nominating a fellow member, click here.