FMI Recognizes Jerry Kehe of KeHE Distributors with Humanitarian Service Award

Food Marketing Institute (FMI) honored Jerry Kehe, chairman of the board at KeHE Distributors, with its Herbert Hoover Humanitarian Service Award. FMI recognized Kehe for his career-long focus serving the greater good.

“Jerry Kehe believes in the inherent right of people to access safe, nutritious and affordable food, and the spirit of compassion with which he puts those values into action, means he embodies the very essence of the Hoover award,” said FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin. “Not only is he a humble advocate for local communities, he finds creative ways to weave his commitment to neighborly care into the fabric of his business practice, serving as a wholesaler to independent operators as well as global food retailers.” 

Kehe grew the company from 40 employees in the late 1960s to more than 4,700 in present day, but the secret to his success is arguably that he instituted the practice of giving back 10 percent of all pretax company profits to those less fortunate. Thirty-one years later, KeHE became employee-owned, which the company attributes to Jerry Kehe’s focus on shaping the company’s ethos.  

“What Jerry set in motion has become a truly unique culture; a culture of employees who long to serve and to give back to those less fortunate. This culture changes how our people view their jobs and their private lives,” said, Brandon Barnholt, KeHE Distributors president and CEO.

Randy Shaw, director of KeHE Cares, the philanthropic arm of the wholesaler, described how Kehe asked company volunteers early on to form a committee and determine how to direct the 10 percent. “[Jerry] gave the committee three simple instructions: No. 1, look to help people who have fallen through the cracks and have few resources; No. 2, only give to small groups that have low overhead; and No. 3, we want to remain as anonymous as possible—we’re simply looking to quietly come alongside those who are serving others,” Shaw said.

KeHE Cares oversees donations and provides aid to people in need in more than 22 countries, and in 20 different regions throughout the United States and Canada. “From these three simple directives, KeHE Cares has grown to become a significant element in the fabric of our culture at KeHE Distributors. To us, this is a big part in thanking and honoring God in all that we do,” Shaw added. 

In line with Kehe’s desire to help those without resources, he has demonstrated a unique affinity for sourcing products that align with the company’s mantra. One example that earned notoriety in the media, and credit in the forward of a novel, was Kehe’s decision to back a specialty coffee maker’s entrance into the U.S. market in 2012. Similar to Kehe’s profit-sharing strategy, the Ugandan coffee company invested 50 percent back into growers’ respective communities. 

Kehe’s humility and generosity is global, but best described by those in the Illinois community. Josie Guth, director of the Willow Creek Care Center, described as a compassion and justice ministry, observed his humility first hand at an event where Kehe was a guest of honor. “My sense is that he has no idea the impact that he has made both on the care center strategy but then also how many thousands of families he’s been able to serve and help feed,” Guth said.

Barnholt recollected that Kehe was just as interested in his cultural leadership as his technical leadership when he brought him on board eight years ago. “We’re fortunate to be a part of this great industry and more fortunate that Jerry initiated a culture that gives back to those less fortunate. What a blessing,” Barnholt said. 

FMI’s Herbert Hoover Award is one of Kehe’s numerous accolades. In 2001, Kehe received the Bradley University Centurion Award and was inducted into the Specialty Food Hall of Fame in 2014. He has also received the McGladrey Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 and most recently the significant Sig Award.