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Smith Brothers Of Demo Deluxe/IMG Pass Away At 66

The Smith Brothers

Last updated on September 22nd, 2015 at 08:25 am

Brothers James and Jerry Smith, owners and operators of Demo Deluxe/IMG, both recently passed away after battling cancer. A funeral service for the brothers was held Monday in Orange, Calif.

James A. Smith died Nov. 21 and Jerry E. Smith died Dec. 6. Both were 66 years old. They were born two minutes apart on Nov. 1, 1946, in Arkansas—to Harding and Helen Smith. They were the second and third sons to a family of five sons. Both entered the grocery business early in their lives.

James joined Market Basket in 1966 as a produce clerk and eventually became a produce manager at age 23, the youngest in the chain at that time. He eventually moved to Bradshaw Inc.-South where he spent 15 years on the brokerage side of the business before opening up Demo Deluxe in 1983.

Jerry started as a box boy for Market Basket in 1964 in the San Fernando Valley where the family had moved from Arkansas when the brothers were just 4 years old. Jerry was on the fast track on the retail side, spending 16 years with Fazios and then Albertsons when the latter purchased Fazios. Jerry left his grocery sales manager position at Albertsons to join James at Demo Deluxe in 1988.

The success of Demo Deluxe/IMG is based on the brothers’ years of experience in the Southern California food industry. James said the company’s first year grossed less than $10,000 and was due primarily to the Demo Side of the business and it being operated by one person, himself. By 1988 when Jerry joined the company, focusing on the merchandising side, the company had grown to No. 3 in Southern California. At one point Jim and Jerry had 16 office staff, 42 supervisors and more than 7,000 part-time demo staff in the field. They were doing up to 2,500 demos on any given weekend and covered five states on the West Coast, doubling their business.

The merchandising side that Jerry started in 1988 continues in hundreds of stores every month. The family atmosphere that was created from day one by James and continued with Jerry still exists today. They nurtured a dedicated and efficient staff that will continue to serve the marketplace with Jerry Smith’s wife Beverly at the head of the company.

James and Jerry were big supporters of the Deli Council. It was one of their favorite organizations and they were involved with meetings and provided personnel to help with golf tournaments and other functions. They had both been recognized as the “Big Cheese” in March 1997.

Jerry and James lived their lives well, literally a lifetime of working and playing together. They worked hard and smart, keeping it—as Jerry said many times—“simple.” They proved the American Dream is attainable through hard work and dedication. They succeeded by never compromising their integrity and values—people counted. They had a mutual love for their families. Family was most important to them.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 34 years, Beverly Smith (Bradshaw and J&J); and two daughters, Angela and Tamara. James is survived by his twins, Connor and Trevor with Alana Smith (also of Bradshaw); as well as twins Douglas and Christopher.

 

 

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