LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Services were held here last week for Jerry W. Davis, the chairman and chief executive officer of Affiliated Foods Southwest. Davis, 64, worked with Affiliated for 37 years, including the last 17 as its top executive, and also served as a member of the executive board of the National Grocers Association. Affiliated, a cooperative serving independent grocers in seven states and the owner of the Harvest Foods chain, had 2003 sales of $541 million, according to the National Cooperative Bank. Tom Zaucha, president of the National Grocers Association, described Davis as a personable, smart businessman who was active in local charities and led the cooperative to prosperity in challenging times. "Not only was Jerry a very good leader but his leadership created a workmanlike, blue-collar culture at Affiliated that permeates the whole staff," Zaucha said. Davis died of a brain hemorrhage related to recent heart surgery, reports said.
