Jack Aronson remembered for commitment to quality, giving back
Garden Fresh Gourmet founder dies
Jack Aronson, founder and creator of Garden Fresh Gourmet, which was located in Ferndale, died Tuesday at the age of 68.
He built Garden Fresh with the help of his wife, Annette, and went from mixing their salsa in five gallon plastic buckets in the back of the Clubhouse BarB-Q, the restaurant in Ferndale the couple owned, to selling the company to Campbell Soup Company for $231 million in 2015 along with the promise from Campbell to keep all 450 employees, make investments and never change a recipe without the couple’s approval. Garden Fresh was known for fresh salsa, hummus, dips and tortilla chips. After selling the business, Aronson remained involved as an advisor, helping to develop and test new recipes.
Upon hearing of Campbell’s selling of the company to Quebec-based Fontaine Sante in 2019, the Aronsons were unsuccessful in a bid to buy the company back after hearing it was for sale.
After selling Garden Fresh, Aronson started the Clean Planet in Clinton Township, which offers healthy refrigerated, cooked meat and meals that are easy and quick to prepare.
“I am saddened to hear of the passing of my friend Jack Aronson. To Annette and the entire Aronson family, may his larger than life legacy provide you with comfort as we come together to remember him. I had the privilege of having Jack as a teammate at a number of charity softball games,” Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said in a statement. “In fact I’ve seen him hit a softball so hard I think it’s still circling the planet! Not only was Jack incredibly charitable, his businesses had a profound effect on our communities. Jack will truly be missed, but never forgotten.”
He was also known for community service and philanthropic efforts, serving on the boards of several local non-profit organizations and mentoring other entrepreneurs.
“His heart was all about community, from starting his restaurant on Woodward, growing Garden Fresh into a national brand, making sure jobs stayed in Ferndale when he transitioned to a national chain, then started another healthy food business that he launched in 2019,” said Ferndale mayor Melanie Piana in a Facebook post Tuesday.
He is survived by his wife Annette five children and 16 grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick Catholic Parish Church 9086 Hutchins Road, White Lake. Those that wish to attend may start arriving at 10 a.m. Friday. Masks are mandatory.